Aust.: More aid money wasted on AWB & politicians

More aid money wasted supporting AWB and politicians.

The leeching of the Australian aid budget to support the interests of
Australian business continues with a new contract valued at $104,500 recently allocated by AusAID for legal assistance at the Cole Inquiry.

Not content with spending $1.5 million of our aid money on supporting the interests of AWB in Iraq, AusAID continues to divert money from the world’s most needy to dig itself from the political quagmire with this latest contract.

AWB associate Trevor Flugge received AusAID money totalling $979,000 for his role in ensuring Aussie wheat contracts were maintained in Iraq. AWB employees Michael “Proton” Long and Daryl Hockey (former adviser to Deputy PM John Anderson) also were recipients of AusAID largesse in relation to a $440,000 contract for their role in Iraq.

When John Howard was questioned in Parliament regarding why wheat traders with no experience in agricultural development, were sent to
Iraq to carry out the re-development of the Iraqi Agricultural sector he was quite clear, “to protect Australian wheat markets from the US”.

AID/WATCH Co-Director, Tim O’Connor stated: “The Australian Government certainly has a role in assisting the interests of Australian business – but to do so through the aid program is taking the food out of the mouths of those in Iraq who so badly need it.

“Wasting Australian aid money on jobs for the boys and legal fees supporting them, is simply unconscionable.”

The total aid funds used to support the interests of the corrupt AWB wheat interests in Iraq now stands at $1.5 million.

For details on the latest aid contract to supporting the Government at the AWB:

http://www.contracts.gov.au/OutputContract.asp?ContractID=1573149

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