Northern Tasmanian campaigners at the Summit … Left to Right Trish Haeusler, Kaye Dowling, Jeff McKinnon from Launceston and Robyn McKinnon from Longford.
Amid talk of an early election, Campaign for Australian Aid hosted a national summit in Sydney over
the weekend to connect, train and empower campaign teams and volunteers. The summit will enable
grassroots teams to lead their local communities.
A coalition of over 60 aid and development notforprofit organisations, Campaign for Australian Aid is
a united force fighting the largest cuts to Australian Aid in our nation’s history. If scheduled cuts of
$224m proceed in the May Budget, Australia will hit its lowest ever aid levels in history.
“Australian aid represents our positive participation in the global community, but many of us have
been observers. I want to know how to do something that makes a real difference to those who are
experiencing extreme poverty in our world,” said Trish Haeusler, a campaigner from Launceston.
Meanwhile, Jeff McKinnon, another campaigner from Launceston who attended the summit said:
“Tasmanians should be proud of what Australian Aid has achieved over recent decades as we have a
long tradition in playing our part in making the world a better and fairer place, but we need to make
sure we keep this on our agenda.”
Over the coming months, opportunities for those living in the Lyons and Bass electorates will be
provided by Campaign for Australian Aid to learn more about the important work made possible by aid
and be given the chance to speak out and act.
Kaye Dowling, Team Leader for the Northern Tasmania Campaign for Australian Aid team, wants to
encourage more people from Launceston to stand up and speak out for a fairer world.
Trish, Kaye, Jeff and Robyn invite supporters to join up as a supporter of the Campaign of Australian
Aid by signing up at: www.australianaid.org .
About Campaign for Australian Aid
The Campaign for Australian Aid is a joint initiative of the Make Poverty History and Micah Challenge coalitions, for all
Australians who believe we can and should do more as a nation to end extreme poverty around the world. It represents over 65
aid and development organisations, church, business and community groups.
Robyn McKinnon
