Weakened aid budget may be used to fund $2bn Pacific island infrastructure bank

Aid groups fear money will be diverted from the aid budget, risking doors ‘closing to us in Asia’

Aid groups fear the federal government is on the verge of taking more money from the strained aid budget to fund a $2bn infrastructure bank for Pacific island nations.

Prime minister Scott Morrison announced the Australian infrastructure financing facility last year as part of Australia’s “Pacific step up”, which is aimed at combatting rising Chinese influence in the region.

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from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2GTUw6W
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