- Jul 2, 2018
- 3,748
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CHIEF OF PROTOCOL |
SECURITY CLASSIFICATION: PROTECTED |
| 2 May 2009 |
| Dear Secretary Sandberg, I should begin by stating that I am a public servant and not a politician, therefore any matters of foreign relations should be directed to the Minister for Foreign Affairs. My role as Chief of Protocol is to led the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's Protocol Branch, which provides services and guidance to diplomatic missions and the diplomatic community in Australia. The Protocol Branch also maintains a Diplomatic List and a Consular List. Currently on our Diplomatic List is the Swedish Embassy in Canberra. On our Consular List there is a Swedish Consulate-General in New South Wales in North Sydney. However, what is not clear on our lists is the status of the South African diplomatic missions in Australia, which has been under Swedish control for over 10 years now. As South Africa was a Commonwealth nation, a Dominion within the British Empire, it was afforded a large amount of land within the Yarralumla District of Canberra as well as architecturally significant buildings. This included both a High Commission premises and a High Commissioner's residence, named South Africa House. It was one of the few diplomatic missions in Canberra afforded its own residence. We need to clarify whether or not these premises are still in use by the Swedish Foreign Ministry and for what purpose. If they are no longer in use, we may need to consider options to repurpose the land and to bring it under the ownership of the National Capital Authority. There are no other South African diplomatic missions in any other state or territory under the Consular List. Yours sincerely, Anne Plunkett. |
R.G. Casey Building, BARTON, ACT 2600 Telephone: (02) 6261 1111 |
| Protective Marking: | Business Impact Level: | Compromise of Information Confidentiality: | Required to be Encrypted: |
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| OFFICIAL | Low Business Impact | No or insignificant damage. This is the majority of routine information. | |
| OFFICIAL: Sensitive | Low to Medium Business Impact | Limited damage to an individual, organisation or government generally if compromised. | |
| PROTECTED | High Business Impact | Damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals. |  |
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| TOP SECRET | Catastrophic Business Impact | Exceptionally grave damage to the national interest, organisations or individuals. | |
Connor
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