AUSTRALIA SUPPORTIVE ON UN CONFERENCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000483 SIPDIS STATE FOR IO/EDA - D BALLARD AND EEB/IFD/ODF - K MONAHAN E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2019 TAGS: EAID ECON EFIN UNGA AS SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA SUPPORTIVE ON UN CONFERENCE ON DEVELOPMENT IMPACT OF CRISIS REF: STATE 50892 Classified By: Acting econcouns W Albright, reasons 1.4 b, d ¶1. (SBU) Econoff delivered reftel points May 20 to Marco Salvio, acting director for the International Financial Crisis Task Force at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The GOA fully shares our concerns about the direction of the UN Conference on the Development Impact of Crisis. In fact, DFAT had just the previous evening sent similar instructions to several of its embassies (including Washington) instructing them to express Australia's concerns. Talking again May 21, Salvio noted how things are moving quickly on this, with agreement in New York to move ahead on the basis of a revised document from the co-facilitators. ¶2. (C) Salvio shared the GOA's objectives for the conference: Australia wants the an outcome that demonstrates a good response to the global financial crisis, with the focus on development issues. This will lead to a significant shift in Australian ODA priorities towards supporting jobs, poverty alleviation, and support for the most vulnerable. Want this conference's outcome to support or at least complement G20 outcomes from the meetings in Washington and London. Australia wants good, practical outcomes that could be taken up at the next G20 meeting in New York in September. ¶3. (U) Salvio told us that the GOA has decided it would be represented at the conference by Parliamentary Secretary for Foreign Affairs Bob McMullen, who has responsibility within the Cabinet for foreign assistance issues. CLUNE