LESLEY Ward brings up some very good points regarding Australian financial aid to, in this case, Pakistan (Daily, March 3l).

I believe our country has a population of 24 million now, rather than 17 million.

About 2.9 million people are of working age but not in the labour market.

According to The Conversation of July 28, 2015, "in 2014-15 personal income taxation made up around 47% of all taxation received by the federal government. Other taxes are paid to state and local government".

The moral argument, one would imagine, for giving to the vulnerable, is incontrovertible.

Many of those working in international aid know of the severe budget cutbacks in this country over recent years and the community is often reluctant to give unless there is a severe natural disaster.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade advises: "Frequent and devastating disasters impede development (to Pakistan's) outcomes and economic growth.

Australia's aid program promotes sustainable , inclusive economic growth in Pakistan, through two strategic objectives, including generation of sustainable growth and employment and investing in Pakistan's people, with a focus on health and education, focussing particularly on women's empowerment."

Almost $56 million in aid to Pakistan does seem a lot, however, given the population and the issues.

It is possibly helping a few people who may be able to help others.

Personally, I would prefer to see more aid go to our close neighbour, Papua New Guinea, for assistance to help with the present drought and its HIV and other health issues, and less aid for Indonesia.

Some of Indonesia's aid could well be re-directed to West Papua, something which appears to be overlooked by our government.

Unfortunately though, it would end up aiding only the Javanese who have been re-settled.

The "slow" genocide of the people of West Papua and the lack of assistance for them, is a scandal.

CLAIRE JOLLIFFE, Buderim