Australia pledges A$10mil for regional disaster relief, Myanmar refugees
The new funding comes on top of the A$1.3 billion development fund Wong unveiled yesterday for Asean countries, aimed at helping offset the impact of recent United States Agency for International Development (USAID) funding cuts.
"When our region is healthier, more stable and better prepared for disasters, that also ensures Australia's security and safety," she told the media at a press conference in conjunction with the 58th Asean Foreign Ministers' Meeting and Related Meetings.
US President Donald Trump's administration slashed more than 80 per cent of USAID programmes in March, describing the move as a bid to cut "wasteful spending" and has since weighed dismantling the agency altogether.
The US was previously the largest contributor to United Nations humanitarian assistance, providing at least 38 per cent of total funding last year.
When asked what Australia hopes to gain from the A$1.3 billion aid, Wong said the move reflects a broader shift in focus within the country's development assistance programme.
She noted that several development partners had scaled back their contributions to the region, prompting Australia to adjust its own approach.
"There has been a reduction in development assistance from a number of development partners, as we have sought to where we can pivot our aid to the region.
"We're not a superpower. We're a middle power and a longstanding dialogue partner of Asean, and we recognise the importance of this region," she added.
Wong said a substantial portion of Australia's aid is already directed to its immediate neighbourhood and reaffirmed the government's commitment to continue prioritising the region.
She acknowledged that this focus has required difficult decisions, including reallocating resources to meet urgent regional needs.
"That has meant making some hard decisions in order to prioritise development assistance in our region, for example in Timor-Leste and in Myanmar," Wong said.
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