Australia won't stop Clinton charity aid

Australian government departments have contributed more than $39 million to programs run by the US Clinton family charity.

clinton

Former secretary of state, senator and first lady Hillary Clinton (EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT)

Australia will continue its contributions to Hillary Clinton's family charity after the board restricted which overseas governments could donate.

Keen to insulate Ms Clinton's tilt at the US presidency from controversy over its reliance on foreign donations, the board of the Clinton Foundation announced this week just six countries, including Australia, would be allowed to contribute in future.

Australia has given more than $27 million to aid initiatives run through the foundation's Clinton Health Access Initiative in 2013 and 2014.

The three programs funded improved treatment for people with HIV in Vietnam, Papua New Guinea and the Papua and West Papua provinces of Indonesia.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade says it might continue to work with the foundation in future, depending on aid priorities.

Australia also has a $12 million contract with the foundation's Clinton Climate Initiative to help the Kenyan government calculate its greenhouse gas emissions and work out the best ways to use land for sustainable development.

That ends in 2016.


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