Just before the last election John Howard promised to spent $500,000 over four years on orangutans in Indonesia.
While some kids ask for a trip to a theme park or toys when they are approached by the Make a Wish Foundation, Daniel Clarke, 11, who suffers from cerebral palsy, wished for help for Southeast Asia’s endangered orangutans.
While the Make a Wish Foundation could not help him save the orangutans as it was an international cause, it organised a visit to the Wallabies dressing room in Sydney in May at which he met the Prime Minister.
Daniel made a strong impression on the Prime Minister with his concerns over the plight of orangutans in Indonesia.
“He really struck me as somebody who was quite passionate about this and I admired that commitment and his bravery,” Mr Howard said in an announcement on YouTube. “I said I’d have a look at whether the Government can help.”
Howard wasn’t re-elected and the new government wasn’t bound by the promise.
Environment Minister Peter Garrett has now introduced Daniel to the realities of politics. “Dear Daniel,” wrote Mr Garrett in a letter received on May 14. “I write in relation to the former government’s undertaking to the Australian Orang-utan Project to provide $200,000 in grant funding to support the work of the orang-utan units in Kalimantan, Indonesia.
“Unfortunately, there is no funding program available to support this activity.”
“I was sad, very sad,” said Daniel. “I would ask Mr Garrett: What is stopping you? Why isn’t the Australian Orang-utan Project receiving the money? Why won’t you honour John Howard’s promise to me?”
Well Kevin Rudd did say that the reckless spending had to stop. Mind you in May 2008 the government still had a budget surplus.
Fast forward to the present day. It turns out that the Rudd government gave a million dollar grant to TERI. Yes the same organsation headed by Rajendra Pachauri. You’ve got to wonder about priorities.
