The Coalition’s announcement less than 48 hours before the election that it would be holding aid flat after inflation at slightly below last year’s level came as a surprise to many, including us.

The decision brings to an end a decade of aid expansion. At the Development Policy Centre, we’ve focused particularly on the decision to cut $656 million from this year’s budget, below last year’s level even before inflation. Within-year cuts of this magnitude are unprecedented; Robin Davies argues that cuts of this order within the current year will take the aid program from expansion to crisis. Stephen Howes suggests that with some parts of the aid program committed or protected, other parts will have to be cut by up to 20% on average.

Over time, we’ll be examining the longer-term implications of this shift. Ben Day has started this discussion arguing that Australia is now embarking on an aid course charted by New Zealand, Canada and the Netherlands, all of whom have cut aid and redefined its objective in more commercial terms.

The additional surprise announcement that AusAID would be ‘integrated’ into the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, amid a wider shake-up of the public service, has also raised many questions about Australian aid and its future priorities.

We’ve compiled the links to our analysis and our comments in the media below.

Blogs

» More transparent, open and effective: Julie Bishop on Australian aid by Stephen Howes and Ashlee Betteridge.

» Felled before forty: the once and future AusAID by Robin Davies.

» Don’t mention aid: what’s unsaid in Australia’s economic diplomacy by Benjamin Day.

» AusAID staffing: how low could it go? by Robin Davies.

» Parsing the overall aid objective: a critique and a suggestion by Stephen Howes.

» AusAID into DFAT: opportunity not threat by Brian Doolan.

» Lead Australian development from the top? by Tim McMinn.

» Whither Australian aid? by Terence Wood and Jo Spratt.

» The future of AusAID: bend it, don’t break it by Robin Davies.

» Back to the future? The split personality of Australian aid by Jack Corbett and Sinclair Dinnen.

» Purposeful and methodical? Not in relation to aid by Stephen Howes.

» A new journey on a worn path? The aid cuts in context by Benjamin Day.

» From expansion to crisis in Australian aid: reflections on the Coalition’s aid cuts by Robin Davies.

In Brief

» AusAID integration media coverage by Ashlee Betteridge.

» Principles released for AusAID’s ‘deep’ reintegration into DFAT by Ashlee Betteridge.

» AusAID no more? Abbott announces aid agency to be integrated into DFAT by Robin Davies and Ashlee Betteridge.

» Abbott announces ministry: no room for aid or the Pacific by Ashlee Betteridge.

» Will there actually be an aid minister under Abbott? by Ashlee Betteridge and Robin Davies.

» The region reacts on aid cuts and the new PM by Ashlee Betteridge

» Coalition releases policy (fragment) on aid by Ashlee Betteridge and Robin Davies.

» Aid in 2016-17 to be back at 2012-13 levels under Coalition plan by Stephen Howes.

Related media appearances

» AusAID staff complain of machine gun miming amid DFAT takeover, Canberra Times, November 1.

» Development Policy Centre’s Robin Davies on recent announced changes to the Australia’s aid program, AidWorks, October 2.

» Bending AusAID or breaking it? - Canberra Times, 2 October.

» PNG, Indonesia speak out about reintegration - The Australian, 20 September.

» Robin Davies: AusAID merged with DFAT - Fairfax Breaking Politics, 19 September.

» Stephen Howes on PNG survey, AusAID changes - Radio Australia, 19 September.

» Aid not trade warning over AusAID shakeup - Radio National AM, 19 September.

» Restructure raise concerns over Australia’s foreign aid commitments - Newsline with Jim Middleton, Australia Network, 18 September.

» Unravelling foreign aid - ABC Nightlife with Tony Delroy, 18 September.

» Pacific concerned that Australia’s aid cuts will hit those most in need - Radio New Zealand International, 12 September.

» Coalition win means significant cuts to Australia’s aid budget - ABC Radio Australia, 9 September 2013.

» Under new management, Australia’s aid program set for more modest course - Devex, 9 September 2013.

» Coalition cuts to aid ‘increase risk of hardline Islamists’ - Sydney Morning Herald, 6 September 2013.

» The Conjuring Trick: Borrowing overseas and then sending it back as foreign aid - Polifact.com.au, 6 September, 2013.

» Australian Coalition’s foreign aid cuts slammed - ABC News, 6 September, 2013.

» Academic says Coalition’s budget is policy on the run - Radio Australia, 6 September, 2013.

» Foreign aid ‘not ATM for parties’ - The Australian, September 6, 2013.

» Aid cuts, ‘stop the boats’ dividend underpin Joe Hockey’s $42bn savings - The Australian, September 6, 2013.

» Election 2013 live: Coalition releases its costings - as it happened - The Guardian, September 5, 2013.

» Coalition announces cuts to foreign aid - Lowy Interpreter, September 5, 2013.