GAZA STRIPPED

AUSTRALIANS have proven yet again their big hearts and generosity with donations to the Victorian Bushfire Appeal now approaching $200 million. That’s about ten dollars for every man woman and child in this country. We are less generous, except at Government level, when it comes to foreign aid. And one area which has brought me a bitter spate of e-mails is the announcement that the Rudd Government has just pledged another $20 million to an international fund to rebuild war-torn Gaza.

Added to $55 million pledged in 2007 that makes $75 million of taxpayers’ money– far more than committed to the rebuilding of Victoria.

Now I am not opposed to foreign aid. Although a lot of Australians do have a ‘charity begins at home’ philosophy.
And it is almost impossible to explain how a government can find $75 million for the Middle East while shutting down the Australian Crime Commission taskforce into indigenous child abuse.
That task force of thirty, cost $4 million a year. It spearheaded investigations into child prostitution and the trucking industry and the failure of some government agencies to report child sex abuse. It has also been involved in monitoring smugglers involved in the illegal sale of pornography and alcohol across state borders.
There are plenty of other examples where the money could be better spent at home. But that’s not my main concern about Australian aid to Gaza.
Presumably some of the projects that our money was spent on from 2007 were damaged or destroyed in the latest Israeli-Hamas war. And even as our money is committed, and despite a ceasefire, rockets are still being fired from Gaza into Israel.
Will Israeli villages targeted for years be also eligible for infrastructure funds?
And what actual rebuilding can take place in Gaza? Israel still has blockade against the shipment of cement and building materials to Gaza on the grounds that it will be siphoned off – away from housing to be used for building more tunnels for arms smuggling and more rocket bunkers.

Will any new building be demolished yet again if the ceasefire breaks, the rockets continue, and while Hamas still holds an Israeli soldier hostage –as they have for the past 2-1/2 years?

As an angry e-mailer wrote overnight:

As a pensioner, I see no justification for such blatant misuse of taxpayer funds by the Federal Government. Are our citizens less deserving than the people of Gaza? It was stated that this money will be used to repair Gaza's infrastructure.

What infrastructure?

It is well known that Gaza was left in ruins by late President Arafat.  The multi-million dollars contributed by many countries was usurped for his own family’s pleasure. Where was Mrs. Arafat living?  In an approximately $6000/week apartment in Paris!

Fair, if bitter, argument. The natives are restless, Mr. Rudd.

© Copyright Derryn Hinch 2009