Despite their own financial woes, most Australians remain fiercely committed to helping out nations struggling with famine, drought, and natural disasters, according to new data.
A survey of 1055 Australian voters found an overwhelming majority, 60 per cent, back the federal government’s funding of overseas aid to developing countries, despite the rising cost of living at home.
The survey also revealed that Australians are far more likely to support foreign aid when it is for humanitarian purposes, such as providing food, shelter, and medical supplies to those in need.
Nearly two thirds of respondents said they would be willing to support foreign aid if it were used to help people in crisis, while only half of those surveyed said they would be willing to support aid if it were used to promote economic development.
According to the YouGov poll conducted for the Help Fight Famine campaign, support for Australia donating more to countries in the Horn of Africa, where the number of children facing severe hunger, thirst, and disease has risen to 20.2 million from 10 million in July, has increased from 57 per cent in 2021 to 65 per cent in 2019.