The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID), the peak body for humanitarian and development agencies, has expressed concern about Australia's plummeting aid transparency.
ACFID Chief of Policy and Advocacy Jocelyn Condon said the 2024 International Aid Transparency Index (IATI) showed Australia falling seven places to rank 48 out of 50 countries.
For the first time, Australia received a 'poor' transparency rating after failing to provide data to IATI for its latest reporting period (2019 – 2022).
"Australia has fallen to the back of the global pack, behind the likes of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and only two places ahead of China, when it comes to transparency about development and humanitarian aid spending," Ms Condon said.
"Aid transparency matters. Open and transparent data to allow Australians to easily find out how the government spends crucial Official Development Assistance.
"ACFID members have rigorous transparency requirements under our Code of Conduct. It is critical that the federal government lives up to the same standards.
"It's important that Australia is clear and unwavering in meeting its commitments to reforming our international reputation as a development partner of choice.
"The aid sector acknowledges Australia's renewed commitments under its new International Development Policy, but it is clear more needs to be done.
"We anticipate improvements in subsequent reporting years when slated new initiatives under the policy are in place.
"Increasing transparency is crucial to bolster the coordination, accountability and effectiveness of development and humanitarian assistance for the world's poorest and most vulnerable people."
