PB14 Aid law: what is it good for?

Development Policy Centre Policy Brief No. 14

By Robin Davies and Camilla Burkot

June 2016

The Australian Labor Party pledged in 2015 to introduce aid legislation with certain features if elected. Twelve of the main donor countries get by with no significant aid legislation. The United Kingdom’s aid volume legislation has real bite but risks a backlash. In eight other countries, legislation exists but has little practical effect. Nevertheless, there is a case – regardless of the 2016 election outcome – for Australian legislation in two apolitical, fundamental areas: aid monitoring and evaluation, and aid transparency.

Davies, R. & Burkot, C. 2016, ‘Aid law: what is it good for?’, Policy Brief No. 14, Development Policy Centre, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, Canberra.

Ashlee Betteridge

Ashlee Betteridge was the Manager of the Development Policy Centre until April 2021. She was previously a Research Officer at the centre from 2013-2017. A former journalist, she holds a Master of Public Policy (Development Policy) from ANU and has development experience in Indonesia and Timor-Leste. She now has her own consultancy, Better Things Consulting, and works across several large projects with managing contractors.