Australians have wrong idea on foreign aid spending

Editor's note

Australia spends a relatively tiny amount on foreign aid, despite widespread acceptance that investing in it is in our national interest. Yet, as Jonathan Pyke writes, the latest Lowy Institute poll has found many Australians have an inflated idea of how much we spend on foreign aid. They estimate it to be about 14% of the federal budget, and believe it should be about 10%. In fact, we spend about 0.8%. So, if Australians believe we invest about 14%, argues Pyke, it’s no wonder there is little appetite to increase it.

Amanda Dunn

Section Editor: Politics + Society

Top story

The 2018 Lowy Institute Poll shows Australians have a very inflated perception of the size of our aid program. Lloyd Jones/AAP

New research shows Australians have wrong idea on foreign aid spending

Jonathan Pryke, Australian National University

New research shows that most Australians have an inflated idea of how much we spend on foreign aid, yet still believe we should invest more.

Politics + Society

Yes, the US border policy is harsh – but Australia's treatment of refugee children has also been deplorable

Deborah Zion, Victoria University

Over 200 children are still in asylum seeker detention within Australia and offshore – so why aren't we more outraged about that?
In conversation: Frances Adamson

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

An edited extract of an interview which is published in partnership with The Australian Strategic Policy Institute.

Business + Economy
What's driving Chinese infrastructure investment overseas and how can we make the most of it? Shahar Hameiri, The University of Queensland Chinese financing and know-how present both a threat and an opportunity for infrastructure development. Australia can benefit from proactively identifying needs that Chinese investment can help meet.

Cities
Working with nature can help us build greener cities instead of urban slums Paul Osmond, UNSW Dense, high buildings limit the space available for urban greenery. But imaginative projects that involve the community can ensure nature and the city go hand in hand.

Environment + Energy

A hidden toll: Australia's cats kill almost 650 million reptiles a year

John Woinarski, Charles Darwin University; Brett Murphy, Charles Darwin University; Chris Dickman, University of Sydney; Sarah Legge, Australian National University; Tim Doherty, Deakin University

The average Australian feral cat kills 225 reptiles a year, which adds up to 596 million in total, according to a new estimate. Pet cats, meanwhile, kill a further 53 million.
Insects that look like sticks, behave like fruit, and move like seeds

James O'Hanlon, University of New England

Stick insects may be using birds to disperse their eggs, just as plant do.

Health + Medicine

The risks associated with gestational diabetes don't end after pregnancy

Allison Sigmund, Western Sydney University; Sue Lynn Lau, Western Sydney University; Susan Hendon, Western Sydney University

Gestational diabetes should be seen as an opportunity to identify families at higher risk of metabolic problems and take action.
Health Check: should you weigh yourself regularly?

Clare Collins, University of Newcastle; Rebecca Williams, University of Newcastle

For some people, self-weighing could be the key to losing or keeping weight off; while for others, it may do harm.

Arts + Culture
Guide to the classics: Don Quixote, the world's first novel - and one of the best Ana Puchau de Lecea, University of Melbourne; Vicente Pérez de León, University of Melbourne Completed by Cervantes when he was in prison, Don Quixote is the tale of a man so passionate about reading he leaves home to live the life of his fictional heroes.

Science + Technology

Women show sexual preference for tall, dominant men – so is gender inequality inevitable?

Beatrice Alba, La Trobe University

The fact that women choose male partners who can dominate them does not mean that women want to be dominated.
3, 2, 1...liftoff! The science of launching rockets from Australia

Ingo Jahn, The University of Queensland

We've launched rockets from Woomera in South Australia, but in reality Australia could support multiple launch sites. And the closer to the equator, typically the better.

Education
The 'right' age to start school varies for each child Kimberley Pressick-Kilborn, University of Technology Sydney There are a number of questions parents should be asking to determine what age is best to send their child to school.