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Yes, it was an aid package. The money was given to the Clinton Foundation to spend solely on projects related to HIV/Aids in Africa.

Now, perhaps the Clinton Foundation didn’t spend the money that way but that is why it was donated. The Australian government routinely makes donations to Non Government Organisations as part of our foreign aid budget.

When those organisations are based in the United States, we trust the American government to police them and make sure they are following the law. The Australian government does not assume as a matter of course that US law enforcement is impotent, and American based organisations are inherently corrupt.

Should it do so?

If the Clinton Foundation has broken US law and misspent Australian money, that’s not a good situation - but to suggest the Australian government is somehow responsible for that happening, rather than the US government is actually pretty absurd.

But to try and push an agenda, that is exactly what is happening here.

Alexander Downer was the Foreign Minister of Australia at a time when Australia went to war twice in support of the United States when the United States had a Republican President in office - at a time when most of the world was willing to stand back and let the United States go it alone. He was also at one time, the actual official leader of Australia’s major conservative party - he preceded John Howard in that role. The idea that he isn’t a conservative is frankly rather ridiculous.