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Overview |
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the department of the Australian federal government responsible for foreign policy and relations, international aid (using the branding Australian Aid), consular services and trade and investment (including trade and investment promotion Austrade). The functions of the department are broadly classified into the following matters as laid out in an Administrative Arrangements Order:
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NEW CONSULATE-GENERALS FOR THE UNITED KINGDOM |
16 January 2001 |
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has today announced that it will be opening 3 new Consulate-Generals in the United Kingdom to faciliate the expanding United Kingdom-Australia relationship. These Consulate-Generals will be located in Edinburgh, Belfast and Cardiff in order to faciliate Australia's relationship with all other nations of the United Kingdom, with the High Commission in London being responsible for England. This will be in addition to the Consulate located in Manchester. |
LAUNCH OF THE CABLE CONNECTIVITY AND RESILIENCE CENTRE |
| 20 November 2004 |
| Today, Australia is launching a new Cable Connectivity and Resilience Centre, to help ensure undersea cable networks in the Indo-Pacific are resilient and all countries can benefit from reliable connectivity and the growth of the digital economy. This work is integral to the prosperity and security of our region. From emails to e-commerce, accessing news, social media and streaming content, we rely on a vast network of undersea cables, which carry over 95 per cent of international data traffic. Australia will invest more than $18 million over the next four years in the Centre, which will draw on our extensive undersea telecommunications cables expertise and experience to:
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AGENTS-GENERAL TO LONDON APPOINTED |
| 1 January 2005 |
| The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade announces that starting today, the first day of the new year, Agents-General for all Australian states have been appointed by their respective state governments to serve in London on behalf of their respective state governments. This was done after a request was made by the federal government for the states to appoint people to these roles for 2005. The role of Agent-General has been around since the mid-1800s to represent various Australian colonies in London. Today the role is traditionally appointed under a state government's trade department. They represent state government interests in London and are based within the Australian High Commission. Those appointed are listed below: Agent-General for New South Wales: Ron Dyer Agent-General for Victoria: Sally Capp Agent-General for Queensland: John Dawson Agent-General for Western Australia: Dr. Kerry Sanderson Agent-General for South Australia: Maurice de Rohan Agent-General for Tasmania: Ken Bacon |
RESPONSE TO THE UNITED STATES STRATEGIC ACCOUNTABILTIY POLICY |
| 4 June 2005 |
Australia supports the United States in implementing its Strategic Accountability Policy and its calls for a global summit on the matter of non-proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. Australia has never and will never proliferate these weapons, either for our own use or for use by others. Australia maintains a strict non-proliferation regime and as a nation rich in resources used in their construction, we have strict export controls on materials that may be used to construct Weapons of Mass Destruction. The Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO) continues to regulate and monitor Australia's requirements under the Resolution for Strategic Ordnance Prohibition (STOP) as well as those in the immediate region, including surveillance of regional tests through the use of assets available to ASNO and the Australian Signals Directorate, including Joint Defence Facility Pine Gap. We look forward to coordinating international responses to Weapons of Mass Destruction non-proliferation through our Ambassador for Arms Control and Counter-Proliferation, Mrs. Vanessa Wood. ASNO maintains monitoring stations throughout the country, outlined in the map below: |
ESTABLISHMENT OF THE AUSTRALIA-JAPAN FOUNDATION |
| 6 June 2005 |
| The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade today has established the Australia-Japan Foundation which will join other foundations and councils that fall under the International Relations Grants Program, including the Australia-China Council, the Australia-India Council, the Australia-Korea Foundation, the Council for Australia-Arab Relations and the Council on Australia Latin America Relations. The appointed Chair will be Natsuko Ogawa, prominent Japanese-Australian corporate lawyer. The International Relations Grants Program (IRGP) supports the Government's foreign policies and economic diplomacy interests and projects a positive contemporary image of Australia. IRGP grants support professional, community and institutional linkages between Australia and its partners on contemporary issues of shared interest including business, education, innovation, science, technology, the arts, media and sport. Grants generally range between $5,000 and $40,000. DFAT's International Relations Grants Program is administered by foundations, councils and institutes.  |
STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF SECRETARY-GENERAL CLARK STONE |
| 27 June 2005 |
| The Australian Government sends its condolences to the family of the Global Assembly's Secretary-General Clark Stone. Clark Stone led the Global Assembly through its foundational years and has seen momentous change in the way that international law is applied in the globe. Australia recognises the tireless work and effort that Secretary-General Clark put into the role. Australia will continue to uphold the Charter of the Global Assembly, its resolutions and champion the efforts of the assembly on the global stage. |
STATEMENT ON THE ELECTIONS OF THE SECRETARY-GENERAL AND DEPUTY SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE GLOBAL ASSEMBLY |
| 10 August 2005 |
| The Australian Government placed itself in a unique position to nominate officials not from Australia, but rather prominent leaders in the Pacific region, to the positions of Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General of the Global Assembly. This is something that has never been done by a member of the Global Assembly, rather it has been used as an outlet to consolidate the power of member states or blocs of member states to aspire to positions of power within the Global Assembly. We are greatly disappointed that both of Australia's nominations have been unsuccessful and that the elections have been narrowed down to large countries such as India, the United States and France. For too long the Global Assembly has overlooked the desire of smaller nations, particularly those in the Pacific, to aspire to leadership positions within the Global Assembly. Australia will continue to fight for and advocate for the South Pacific region on the global stage, including through the South Pacific Forum. We ask the global community to firmly reflect on their desires and aspirations and ask what they really wish to see in the world. |
STATEMENT ON POTENTIAL THAI INTERVENTION IN SYRIA |
| 28 December 2005 |
| The Australian Government is concerned about recent statements from the Thai Government in regards to potential unilateral military intervention in Syria. Australia remains committed to diplomatically resolving this conflict and does not believe one nation should take unilateral action to intervene and violate the sovereignty of Syria. Australia remains committed to the freedom and independence of the Kurdish people and urges Syrian opposition forces to halt their advance against Kurdish forces and Kurdish-controlled lands. Increasingly, Australia remains concerned about rhetoric from Thailand in regards to organised religion. Notably in their "declaration of war" against al-Qaeda, they included a declaration of war against organised religions. Plural. Australia remains committed to and prides itself on multicultural principles which see Australia being a safe haven for individuals of all religions, whether they be Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist or other. Islam is a highly respectable religion, many nations of South East Asia, such as Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei, are Muslim-majority nations and we ask Thailand to continue to respect their presence within South East Asia. Australia will continue to ensure the diversity of people's in our region is respected and upheld. The Thai Government has no authority to impose its will on other nations in regards to its "guiding principles", in direct violation of international norms in regards to sovereignty. Australia's Head of State is also the Supreme Governor of the Church of England. We are unsure whether this includes Australia and the Commonwealth in Thailand's declaration of war against organised religions. We urge restraint across the board and commit Australia to cooperating with nations in order to combat these threats rather than taking unilateral action. |
