12 Jun 2002

Australia on track with aid to Nauru says adviser

10:35 am on 12 June 2002

Australia says it's on track for the delivery of aid to Nauru as negotiated in the two countries' memorandum of understanding.

A spokesman in the office of foreign minister, Alexander Downer, says that 15 million US dollars will have been delivered by the end of this financial year and that a further four million dollars will be provided next year.

He says the aid is in the form of goods and services for areas such as education, health, power and basic infrastructure.

The comments follow criticism from Nauru's president, Rene Harris, that Australia is yet to deliver on its deal promising millions of dollars in return for becoming a processing centre for asylum seekers Australia refuses to process on its own territory.

The Australian spokesman says this was a misunderstanding which has now been cleared up following a phone call from Mr Downer to Mr Harris.

And, he says that two full-time budgetary advisers are being sent to Nauru next week for a three month contract.