Call to halt cash help for farmers

AUSTRALIANS should stop sending money to droughtstricken farmers who have access to support and won’t die of starvation, says world-renowned philosopher Peter Singer.

Instead, their money should be sent overseas to save lives in less fortunate countries.

Mr Singer, regarded as the most influential living philosopher on the planet, has never shied away from a provocative opinion, nor is he the first to try to help the global poor.

But his organisation — The Life You Can Save, launching in Australia this week — approaches the problem from a novel angle.

Donations are channelled from the public towards highimpact charities proven to be “most effective”, he says.

“The farmers, although they’re experiencing hardship, are not in danger of starving to death,,” Mr Singer says.

“So yes, I do think the money we spend on drought or flood relief is better spent overseas.

“I think we should be sympathetic to anyone suffering hardship, but I don’t feel the fact that people are Australian is an overriding reason for supporting them.”