In contrast, last year's Federal budget saw the level of overseas aid fall to its lowest level ever, despite a large surplus. This year, the Government has been generous in assisting East Timor and funding debt relief. I urge you to build on this by increasing the aid budget, not just to East Timor, but to Africa and South Asia, where more aid is desperately needed to fight hunger, disease and homelessness. The Australian Council for Overseas Aid represents some ninety Australian non-government organisations working in international aid, development and human rights. The Harvest paper used in printing the Australasian edition of the New Internationalist magazine is made from an alternative fibre source called bagasse, mixed with small amounts of plantation timber pulp.
Bagasse is sugar cane fibre waste material reclaimed from the sugar manufacturing process.
Using bagasse for paper production eliminates the need for landfilling or incineration of this industrial waste, and at the same time reduces the demand for woodland deforestation. As a bonus it also requires less energy to convert to finished paper. Because bagasse is a cellulose fibre it is also fully recyclable.