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Aussie Families First, Not the Taliban

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Another session of Senate Estimates with the Department of (DFAT) and more questions into where your hard-earned tax dollars are actually going.

At a time when Australian families are struggling just to keep the lights on and put food on the table, this Labor government has poured more into Afghanistan ( $310 million since 2021) which includes a recent $50 million. Why are we sending millions to a country controlled by the Taliban? The department claims the money goes through the UN and “established partners” to help women and girls, rather than the regime. Yet let’s be real — the Taliban are violent oppressors who have been known to steal grain and manipulate aid.

The government admitted they’ve had to cancel programs in the past because of the exact risks I raised. Now, they say they rely on “independent reporting” to ensure the money reaches the right spot.

They need to prove to me — and to you — that this money isn’t just propping up a corrupt, illegitimate regime.

The Minister expressed that 22 million people in Afghanistan are in “dire need,” however I reminded her that our own constituents are doing it tough too and we have a responsibility to Australians first. I reminded them how we got here. We went into Iraq and Afghanistan based on the “weapons of mass destruction” lie from Bush, Blair, and Howard. We sent our brave young men and women into a conflict built on a vacuum of evidence, created a massive mess, and now we’re expected to keep paying for it indefinitely?

It boggles the mind that no one in this Parliament seems willing to hold the people who made those original, disastrous decisions accountable.

I will continue to demand the data and the evidence. We cannot have a government that makes “weighty decisions” to send our money overseas without absolute transparency.

– Senate Estimates | February 2026

Transcript

Senator ROBERTS: The next set of questions is about Afghan support. At a time when Australian families are finding it very hard to pay vital bills and put food on the table, why has this Labor government given $50 million to Afghanistan, which is controlled by the Taliban?  

Senator Wong: I’ve seen some misinformation in the public sphere about this, and I’m very happy for others to explain the support we are providing, particularly to women and girls.  

Ms Storey: We’re aware of reports and concerns in the community around the Taliban seeking to interfere in the provision of humanitarian assistance. We are confident that our humanitarian support, which is actually $310 million since the fall of Kabul, including Ministers Wong’s and Aly’s recent announcement of $50 million on 29 January. This has a particular focus on meeting the needs of women and girls and on nutrition, healthcare and protection assistance. We work with established partners, such as UN agencies, to ensure that our support reaches those most in need. We work with longstanding partners to ensure our aid supports those most in need; so, in other words, it does not go to the Taliban. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan has stated that it takes extremely seriously any allegations of malpractice and corruption and ensures these are promptly investigated.  

Senator ROBERTS: Who would accuse the UN of corruption! The Taliban government, which is violent, oppresses women and sells the grain, we’re told, given to them by charities and makes the local men work in return for grain that was donated by governments from the West. The Taliban are not our friends; I’m sure you agree. Ask any soldier who served there what he or she thinks about this. The Taliban government is corrupt and most foreign aid is stolen, so it’s reported, and not passed on to those in need. So, you rely upon the UN and other agencies to make sure that our aid reaches the right spot?  

Ms Storey: That’s right.  

Senator ROBERTS: How confident are you?  

Ms Storey: I can take that on notice to provide you with more extensive detail. I need to reiterate that we do not regard the Taliban as the legitimate representatives of the people of Afghanistan. While there are some who have this view, there are also many who express strong support for the provision of humanitarian support to the people of Afghanistan because of the very dire and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the country.  

Senator Wong: Could I just add to that? Firstly, the situation in Afghanistan is dire. You’re right; the Taliban is not our friend, which is why we have been so clear about our view in relation to the Taliban and also why we have taken action—a world-first sanctions framework, the imposition of financial sanctions on senior Taliban socalled ministers for their involvement in the oppression of women and girls. We are very clear we do not recognise the Taliban. You’re right; we have had previously to alter our provision of aid and discontinue programs for the sorts of reasons you have outlined. What the department has sought to do is to recognise the Daini and also how is it through other partners that we can provide assistance to people who need it, whose need is so great. Independent reporting and regular donor engagement such as has been described are in place to confirm that our UN partners are delivering aid effectively, accountably and in line with humanitarian principles.  

Senator ROBERTS: Are they going to get it? That is my question. 

Senator Wong: I have a photo in my office, actually, of two girls walking to school, which was taken by an Afghan man whom I met at an event where we had to talk about what we had done and show what we had done, particularly for women and girls, but we had to discontinue the program for the very reasons you outline. But we’re seeking to provide some assistance with the sorts of protections that the department has outlined.  

Senator ROBERTS: You’re going to provide me reassurance on notice—  

Ms Storey: Yes.  

Senator ROBERTS: that the money is getting to the right place?  

Ms Storey: The minister noted that independent reporting and regular donor engagement that does confirm the partners are delivering effectively. We can provide you with a little more information on that, certainly.  

Senator ROBERTS: How much has the government given to Afghanistan since 2021? Is it $310 million or more?  

Ms Storey: Yes, it’s $310 million in total. That’s committed and provided. That includes the most recent announcement of the $50 million.  

Senator ROBERTS: I ask these questions because some of our constituents are pretty upset with Australia; we’re doing things pretty tough at the moment, but people in Afghanistan are doing it even tougher.  

Ms Storey: Almost the same size as the Australian population, 22 million in Afghanistan, is assessed to be in dire humanitarian need. I know that this is a balance that we must take.  

Senator ROBERTS: Minister, the thought comes to me that our involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan was based on the so-called evidence of weapons of mass destruction from England, America under Bush and John Howard in Australia. Then we were told by all three leaders and their nations that there was never any evidence. We have gone into those countries, jeopardised our own people, boys and girls, and created a mess and now we have got more of a mess. Is there any thought given to stopping the mess in the first place and making sure we only enter conflicts where there’s justification?  

Senator Wong: There’s a lot in that question.  

Senator ROBERTS: There is. It’s a simple answer, yes or no?  

Senator Wong: Historically, you might recall the position then Labor opposition had in relation to the Iraq War. I’m not sure I can do your question justice in terms of a full and comprehensive answer, but I think there are two points. One is committing Australian men and women to conflict is the most serious decision a government can make. It is a decision that should be made soberly and—  

Senator ROBERTS: With facts 

Senator Wong: on the basis of facts and a very clear assessment of our national interests. It is the most serious and weighty decision a government can make. The second point is we cannot assure stability in other countries from where we are. We can contribute to it, but ultimately peace and stability require many elements in country and in the region. It is a reminder of why, whether it is in the Middle East particularly or more broadly we keep as our objective contribution to peace and stability.  

Senator ROBERTS: It boggles my mind that, as far as I know from reports through the media, no-one in the parliament has questioned the original decision to go into Iraq and Afghanistan and held people accountable.

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Where Is Your Money Going?

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You work hard for your money and you’ve got every right to know exactly where those tax dollars are going, especially when the government hands it out as overseas “aid.”

This is my Estimates session with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) on aid to the Middle East.

The department says Australia doesn’t pay the Palestinian Authority (PA) directly. Instead, they funnel the cash through United Nations’ agencies like UNRWA and UNICEF.

They confirmed that our money does reach the PA indirectly. For instance, we’re paying for UNDP programs that help them set up their local elections.

I asked questions about the “Martyrs Fund” (families of suicide terrorists). DFAT said they believe the Palestinian Authority has scrapped the laws behind those payments and moved to a “general welfare” system.

I’ve put on notice a request for a full calculation of every cent of these “indirect” payments made over the last five years. I’ll be looking at those figures closely.

We need real accountability for every single dollar given in overseas aid.

– Senate Estimates | February 2025

Transcript

Coming Soon

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Charity Begins at Home

$3 billion in foreign aid including $600M for a PNG rugby team, while Aussies struggle to pay bills.

Charity begins at home – Australians first!

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Accountability in Refugee Aid

At the recent Senate Estimates, I inquired about the suitability of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) being a recipient of aid for children caught up in the war zones of Lebanon and Gaza, particularly in light of reports connecting 9 UNRWA staff members to terrorist group Hamas.

I was informed that UNRWA is widely used to support refugees and that strict conditions are now in place to ensure aid reaches refugees rather than being diverted to terrorist organisations. I was also told that new agreements have been entered into with UNRWA to ensure these safeguards are implemented.

Transcript

Senator ROBERTS: Thank you. I will now move to my second topic. It’s a difficult issue. Without buying into a finger-pointing exercise of fault, it’s a fact that thousands of children are caught in the war zones in Gaza
and Lebanon at great risk of death or injury. These are the innocent victims of war. I recognise, Minister, your point a few minutes ago that Australia cannot solve this alone. I recognise that. What is the Australian
government, though, doing from a humanitarian and international aid perspective for these innocent children and from a diplomatic point of view with other countries?

Mr Maclachlan: Senator, as I think you have already heard, there is an extensive level of diplomatic work. It might seem somewhat distant from the children, but in fact it is very much about putting pressure on Israel to increase what are insufficient deliveries of aid into Gaza in particular. In addition, the government has committed $94½ million in humanitarian assistance to the region. The bulk of that is for the situation in Gaza. We heard earlier this morning about the work of UNRWA. Earlier this year, the government provided $6 million to UNRWA for shelter kits and hygiene kits. We continue to do a lot of this work and advocate on behalf of UN organisations that are trying to secure access into Gaza. It’s clear that it’s a war zone. It’s a very difficult area. It’s very difficult for humanitarian workers to enter Gaza, to operate there and to do so successfully.

Senator ROBERTS: Thank you. I will make a statement followed by a question. It has been suggested that UNRWA may not be the most suitable aid agency to be used due to its alleged associations with the terrorist
group Hamas. What due diligence has the government done with regard to that? Has there been any consideration to using an alternative avenue?

Mr Maclachlan: My colleagues will elaborate on this. We’ve used multiple agencies, including UNRWA, to provide assistance to the situation in Gaza. But the reality is, as we heard earlier, that no organisation has the
footprint that UNRWA has in terms of staff, capability and capacity, including in Gaza. It operates on a scale unlike any other agency. Frankly, other UN agencies depend on UNRWA in their own operations. We are very concerned to ensure that Australian support that is provided through UNRWA does not fall into the wrong hands.

You will be aware that the revelations that some UNRWA employees were engaged in the horrendous attacks on 7 October were investigated. Nine of those individuals have been dismissed by UNRWA. In our own work to disperse $6 million to the UNRWA flash appeal, we entered into a new agreement with UNRWA. It built in additional checks and balances. Indeed, the way in which we funded the activities through that agreement was more constrained because we were delivering, as I said, shelter kits and hygiene kits to minimise the risk that money would fall into the wrong hands. I also note that a lot of the work we’re doing is work that like-minded partners are also doing. They too are remaining committed to UNRWA. They are continuing to fund UNRWA. They are also, like us, asking UNRWA to implement the recommendations of the Colonna review that was done earlier this year, which did not find a systemic link between UNRWA and Hamas. These are matters that we take very seriously. We will continue to ensure that our work operates within
Australian law, which, of course, as officials we have to abide by.

Senator ROBERTS: Thank you for your considered responses.

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