Meeting with the Hon Penny Wong

WaterAid Australia Chief Executive Rosie Wheen was pleased to meet with the Hon Penny Wong, the Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, today, with Water Services Association of Australia Chair Pat McCafferty and Australian Water Association representative Paul Smith, to discuss our collaborative partnership, the work of WaterAid and the centrality of clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene in Australia’s international development program and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

The meeting explored why Australia should take a more strategic approach to water, sanitation and hygiene in our region in response to climate change and regional health security threats associated with anti-microbial resistance.

The government’s Foreign Policy White Paper highlights the need for a strategic agenda to combine the expertise of Australian NGOs, water industry, academic and private sectors to help Asia-Pacific governments achieve rapid change in access to water, sanitation and hygiene.