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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Three years on from Australia’s launch of the 2023 International Development Policy, the world has changed profoundly. Our brief: 🔴 Tracks the progress made against commitments, and 🔴 Examines two dynamics that will shape Australian development cooperation Read more: lnkd.in/gA7Gccfd

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

And the ‘4Rs’ which have been overshadowed in the past, can refocus development cooperation at the forefront of Australian statecraft. 🔴 Read the full article ‘The 4Rs: A new(ish) narrative for Australia’s development cooperation,’ here: www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpre...

lowyinstitute.org

The 4Rs: A new(ish) narrative for Australia’s development cooperation

Development cooperation advances all four of Australia's foreign policy priorities – region, relationships, rules and resilience – in ways no other tool can.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

Following the Federal Budget announcement this week, Michael argues that there is “growing recognition that Australia’s future is inextricably linked to sustainable development in the Indo-Pacific.”

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

This is what our Strategic Advisor, Michael McKenzie, writes in his new article for the Lowy Institute’s The Interpreter.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 14/05/2026

“Development cooperation is no longer the soft edge of foreign policy. It is now uniquely suited to advancing Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s four priorities: region, relationships, rules and resilience.”

lowyinstitute.org

The 4Rs: A new(ish) narrative for Australia’s development cooperation

Development cooperation advances all four of Australia's foreign policy priorities – region, relationships, rules and resilience – in ways no other tool can.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

🔴 Or directly compare the numbers on BudgetLines, our online interactive database collating 25+ years of budget data, and see for yourself what Australia’s spending reveals about its historical priorities: www.devintelligencelab.com/budgetlines/...

devintelligencelab.com

BudgetLines

Your guide to 25+ years of Australian budget data across defence, development, diplomacy, intelligence and international policing.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

🔴 Deep dive into the full findings on the 2026-27 federal budget here: www.devintelligencelab.com/analyses/australias-2026-federal-budget

devintelligencelab.com

Australia's 2026 Federal Budget | The Lab

William Leben, Bridi Rice Analysing Australia's 2026 international affairs budget

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

⚫ International policing has grown a little more than foreign affairs and trade over the 27 year period. There is set to be a real decline over the forward estimates.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

⚫ Intelligence community budgets have seen the greatest growth the last 27 years; Australia now budgets more than five-and-a-half times as much on intelligence agencies as it did in 1999. There is, however, set to be a real decline over the forward estimates.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

⚫ Over the last 27 years, funding for Australian diplomacy has been the most volatile. This budget reports a spike of approximately $1b in DFAT’s core operating budget for 2025-26. This spike warrants further analysis. There is set to be a real decline over the forward estimates.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

⚫ Aid has seen the weakest growth over the last 27 years. There is set to be a real decline over the forward estimates.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

⚫ Defence dominates the budget at approximately 82% of the total $76.18b spend on international affairs this budget year. There is set to be real growth over the forward estimates.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

The 2026-27 Australian Federal Budget was released last night. What’s the long term, big picture story? ⚫ Amidst rising global threats and aid cuts, this year, Australia’s international affairs budget makes up $76.18b, or 9.54% of the total Commonwealth budget.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

🔴 In the meantime, you can access 25+ years of federal budget data and examine key changes in Australian international budgets on our online interactive database, BudgetLines: www.devintelligencelab.com/budgetlines/...

devintelligencelab.com

BudgetLines

Your guide to 25+ years of Australian budget data across defence, development, diplomacy, intelligence and international policing.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

We have summarised the budget data on international affairs from 1999-2029 – adjusted for inflation – in the graphs below. And put together a year-on-year comparison between this year’s budget and last year’s, both in nominal and inflation-adjusted terms.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 13/05/2026

The 2026 Australian Federal Budget was released last night. International affairs, including defence, development, diplomacy, intelligence, and international policing, make up $76.18b, or roughly 9.54% of Australia's total 2026-2027 budget.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

In the meantime, you can access 25+ years of federal budget data and examine key changes in Australian international budgets on our online interactive database, BudgetLines: www.devintelligencelab.com/budgetlines/...

devintelligencelab.com

BudgetLines

Your guide to 25+ years of Australian budget data across defence, development, diplomacy, intelligence and international policing.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

Here’s the 2026-2027 budget breakdown (nominal): 🔴 Total Federal Budget: $798b 🔴 ODA: $5.21b 🔴 Defence: $62.6b 🔴 Diplomacy – Foreign Affairs and Trade: $3.96b 🔴 National Intelligence Community (NIC): $2.18b 🔴 International Policing (AFP): $2.24b 🔴 Total international affairs: $76.18b

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

This is consistent with what Australia has spent on international affairs over the last quarter-century.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 12/05/2026

The 2026 Australian Federal Budget has just been released. International affairs, including defence, development, diplomacy, intelligence, and international policing, make up $76.18b, or roughly 9.54% of Australia's total 2026-2027 budget.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

"The sheer volume of data can also make it hard to separate genuine progress from incremental gains.” Explore the debate 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/05may2026

devintelligencelab.com

The Intel • DFAT’s development performance report is out — What should you know?

Responses by Mira Sulistiyanto, Imogen Harper and Dr Cameron Hill

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

“While it might not grab the average Australian, we, development analysts, pore over reports like the PADC. Past editions have sparked debate about how “performance” is defined, and how well results reflect meaningful impact in partner countries."

devintelligencelab.com

The Intel • DFAT’s development performance report is out — What should you know?

Responses by Mira Sulistiyanto, Imogen Harper and Dr Cameron Hill

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 07/05/2026

The Intel’s editor, Victoria Cooper, sets the scene for this fortnight’s question and why it deserves to be asked:

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

This fortnight’s Intel featured insights from Imogen Harper, Dr Cameron Hill, and Mira Sulistiyanto, responding to the question: 🔴 DFAT’s development performance report is out— what should you know? Multiple perspectives. Different angles. All here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/05may2026

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

Explore their three competing views, here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/05may2...

devintelligencelab.com

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 05/05/2026

This fortnight on the Intel we ask: 🔴 DFAT’s development performance report is out—what should you know? Our expert contributors pitch in: ⚫ Australian Council for International Development’s Imogen Harper ⚫ Development Policy Centre’s Dr Cameron Hill ⚫ The Lab’s own Mira Sulistiyanto

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

Explore the debate 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/21april2026

devintelligencelab.com

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

“Alongside traditional ODA, NODA encompasses a growing set of activities that contribute to development outcomes — from maritime domain awareness and cyber cooperation to labour mobility and security partnerships… Despite its growing prominence, non-ODA remains relatively under-defined.”

devintelligencelab.com

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 23/04/2026

The Intel’s editor, Victoria Cooper, sets the scene for this fortnight’s question and why it deserves to be asked:

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 22/04/2026

This fortnight’s Intel featured insights from Serena Sasingian, Grace Stanhope, and Richard Moore, responding to the question: 🔴 Non-ODA support for development - What works, what doesn't? Explore the points of agreement, tension, and difference here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/21april2026

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

Explore their three competing views, here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/21apri...

devintelligencelab.com

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 21/04/2026

This fortnight on the Intel we ask: 🔴 Non-ODA support for development - what works, what doesn't? Our expert contributors pitch in: ⚫ Lowy Institute’s Serena Sasingian’s ⚫ Lowy Institute’s Grace Stanhope ⚫ The Lab’s Richard Moore

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 06/04/2026

"AI will transform development" - but what's actually being talked about? The Lab's Geordie Fung, argues the transformation can be understood through 3 lenses: AI for efficiency, AI for effectiveness, and AI as a force reshaping development trajectories www.devintelligencelab.com/analyses/ai-...

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

In such cases, geostrategic, security, diplomatic or economic objectives may be determinative, provided development remains a secondary or complementary focus. 🔴 Read our latest brief to learn more about NODA here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/analyses/non...

devintelligencelab.com

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

⚫ The converse is true for non-ODA support for development. While not formally defined, it captures spending that does not meet ODA criteria but nonetheless contributes to sustainable development.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

Broader objectives (geostrategic, security, diplomatic and economic) can inform decision-making, but they should not displace or undermine the primary goal of promoting the economic development and welfare of lower and middle income countries.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 18/03/2026

What is non-ODA support for development (NODA)? ⚫ The primary objective of Official Development Assistance (ODA) is the sustainable development of the recipient country.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

The brief concludes that non-ODA support is a promising building block for a new development paradigm in Australia. 🔴 Read the full brief by Lab’s Strategic Advisor, Michael McKenzie, here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/analyses/non...

devintelligencelab.com

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

⚫ Further guidance on the use of non-ODA support alongside Official Development Assistance (ODA) would help sharpen the development program as an element of statecraft while preserving its core development purpose.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

⚫ Non-ODA (NODA) support has moved from the margins to the mainstream of Australia’s development cooperation in the Indo-Pacific. ⚫ When purposefully deployed, non-ODA support enables greater scale, flexibility and coherence in development cooperation.

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 16/03/2026

In recent years, Australia’s non-ODA (NODA) support to countries in the region has grown dramatically. Yet uncertainty remains about the nature and development impact of this funding. Our new brief ‘Non-ODA support and the future of development cooperation’ looks at this issue and finds:

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

Explore the debate 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/10march2026

devintelligencelab.com

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

“Pacific Island countries have the lowest level of female political representation in the world. Women in Asia and the Pacific work the longest hours in the world, with 80% of unpaid care work in the region done by women. Climate shocks and conflict are widening these gaps.”

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

The Intel’s editor, Victoria Cooper, sets the scene for this fortnight’s question and why it deserves to be asked:

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Development Intelligence Lab @devintellab.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Explore the points of agreement, tension, and difference here 👉 www.devintelligencelab.com/intel/10marc...

devintelligencelab.com

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