Another $920K today, on top of the $40M for "peace" in March and a $90M education program we are paying for in the region.  We don't appear to be getting value for money.

That's Julie Bishop on 17 March this year handing over an additional $40M to The Philippines to help bring peace to the southern Mindanao region.  That was on top of an existing $90M program we've been funding for education in the region.

There is no announcement with the details of the March payments on the Minister's website, however this AAP story has the facts:

17 March, 2017 STORYLINE: Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced in Davao city on Friday that her government is contributing an additional 40 million Australian dollars for peace efforts in Mindanao on top of a 90 million grant for education development in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. During the launch of the Education Pathways to Peace project, she said Australia wanted to contribute more in the peace process in Mindanao. She said much of the 40 million Australian dollars, over six years, would be for " projects in conflict-affected areas and projects like focusing on water supplies and infrastructure and things that local people need to get ahead and get on with their lives."

So much for peace.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/islamic-state-threat-in-southeast-asia-raises-alarm-in-washington/

Here's today's announcement including this awful acknowledgement 

This assistance is in addition to the package of support for the peace process and education in Mindanao that I announced when I visited in March 2017.  

That was $40M, 3 months ago for "projects in conflict-affected areas and projects like focusing on water supplies and infrastructure and things that local people need to get ahead and get on with their lives".