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Pauline Hanson rips into Julie Bishop over use of taxpayers’ ‘cheque book’
PAULINE Hanson has lashed out at Julie Bishop for using the taxpayers’ “cheque book” to suck up to celebrities and has demanded an immediate investigation into Australian Government donations to charities.
In a scathing letter obtained by The Courier-Mail,
Senator Hanson has questioned whether Australian Government donations had been caught up in the international Oxfam sex abuse scandal.It comes as the Foreign Minister yesterday tweeted about her meeting with the Duchess of Cambridge at Buckingham Palace.
In the photo posted, fashion queen and the US editor of Vogue Dame Anna Wintour was lingering in the background.
In correspondence to Ms Bishop, Senator Hanson said taxpayers needed to know the
$30 million donated to Oxfam was spent wisely.
Oxfam is in damage control after senior staff allegedly paid survivors of the Haiti 2010 earthquake for sex.
The British Government has accused Oxfam of lacking “moral leadership”.
Senator Hanson said she also had concerns over
Ms Bishop tipping $90 million into the Julia Gillard-chaired Global Partnership for Education. It was done within a day of superstar Rihanna using Twitter to ask the Turnbull Government to cough up cash.
“You would be aware of the serious sexual assault allegations that have surfaced over the
last fortnight in relation to projects run by a number of high profile non-Government organisations, most notably Oxfam,’’ Senator Hanson wrote.
“These allegations come at a time where Australians are becoming increasingly disillusioned with your Government’s ability to responsibly spend the taxes it collects and rein in our out-of-control debt.Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson greets Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop ahead of their meeting at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London this week. Picture: AFP/Matt Dunham“I acknowledge there are many moral, political and economic reasons for the Australian
Government to make overseas aid contributions, but can understand the frustration of everyday Australians when it comes to spending borrowed money on projects that are only tangentially in our national interest.
“As more information emerges about the alleged behaviour of Oxfam staff following the 2010 Haiti earthquake and alleged attempts by Oxfam to hide reports of this behaviour, it is becoming clear that some form of investigation into federal funding of NGOs must be undertaken.”
Separately to the correspondence, Senator Hanson told The Courier-Mail:
“When Aussies hear that some of this money might be going towards the sexual exploitation of desperate people they are justifiably horrified.
“Many Australians are furious and I don’t think they trust Foreign Minister Julie Bishop to keep the cheque book closed.”
Ms Bishop said any exploitation of vulnerable people in need by those who are supposed to be helping them was “an appalling abuse of power”.
“During my visit to London this week, I spoke to UK Secretary of State for International Development Penny Mordaunt about ways to improve standards and reporting in the sector.
“The Australian Government has systems in place to reduce the risk of exploitation and abuse in our aid program, including a comprehensive child protection policy.
“We are looking at how our funding and accreditation processes can be strengthened to ensure NGOs and other partners prevent future incidents like Haiti occurring.”
She said the Australian Government does not fund Great Britain Oxfam directly.
“We have asked Oxfam Australia to suspend payments to Oxfam Great Britain until the UK Charity Commission has completed its review of Oxfam,” she said.