We have spent $40 million to date in order to become a non permanent member of the UN Security Council. It would hold us in as high esteem as Azerbaijan, India, South Africa, Colombia, Morocco, Togo, Germany, Pakistan, Guatemala, and Portugal. Mind you it is the Permanent 5 members that have the power, they can overrule any decision made by non Permanent members. Ten non-permanent members, elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms and not eligible for immediate re-election, even if we win a seat. Have a look at what has been achieved so far this year by the UN Security Council, and you will see that they are a waste of money.
http://www.un.org/Depts/dhl/resguide/scact2012.htm
So is this a worthwhile seat? Is this $40 million well spent? Consider this.
On Census night in 2006, the homeless population in Australia was 105,000, according to an academic report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
The majority of homeless people were single (57,182 people or 55%), while 20% were couples without accompanying children (20,704 people, or 10,160 couples with 384 accompanying adults) and 26% were in homeless families with children (26,790 people, or 7,483 families).
If the $40 million squandered on trying to buy a temporary seat on the UN Security Council were used to provide a shelter for the 7,483 families we would be putting the money to use in supporting the most needy of Australian Families, with ongoing good for others that find themselves in unfortunate circumstances in the future, rather than making a few politicians think they are important and throwing the money at the next to useless UN.
