The Federal Budget delivered on 3 May offered no real surprises in terms of cuts to Australia’s aid spending. The Budget takes Australia to its lowest ever levels of international aid assistance. Michael Sheldrick of Global Citizen outlines the arguments for increasing Australian aid. He argues that aid should not be viewed as charity, but rather as a strategic investment in Australia’s region that increases consumer markets and prevents terrorist radicalisation.

Michael Sheldrick is the Global Director of Policy and Advocacy with Global Citizen, an Australian-grown international advocacy group based in New York. The group produces the annual 60,000-person Global Citizen Festival in New York, now broadcast in more than 160 countries.

Interviewer: Genevieve Lai

Producer and editing: Leyang Wang