Media Release - Senator Russell Trood
The Government’s decision to cut a further $105.2 million from the already desperately under-funded Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is irresponsible and dangerous, Queensland Senator Russell Trood, the Chair of the Senate References Committee for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade warned today.
This year’s budget provided DFAT with $333.1 million in new departmental funding, but yesterday’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook Statement revealed that the Government intends to cut $105.2 million, by “rationalising the provision of diplomatic services”, among other reductions.
Senator Trood said that given that the Senate Estimates hearings have just concluded, the Government should have made a public announcement of this significant decision much earlier than yesterday.
“This is a sneaky and underhanded announcement, which shows contempt for Parliamentary processes.”
Senator Trood warned that the funding cuts will impose further severe pressures on a Department already struggling to do its work effectively.
“Considering the financial constraints it is under, DFAT does its work with great professionalism. But its good work has been seriously impeded by a shortage of resources and a serious decline in overseas representation,” Senator Trood said.
“This decision is a further retreat from the Prime Minister’s claim that the Australian diplomacy can be ‘the best in the world’. Indeed, it raises questions about what exactly this Government regards to be a healthy and robust diplomacy.”
Senator Trood cautioned that the Government cannot expect DFAT to fill the Prime Minister’s ever-expanding foreign policy agenda at precisely the same time as it slashes the Department’s funding.
“Australia’s Foreign Service is at a breaking point. It is already ill‐equipped to secure fundamental international objectives, and will impede DFAT’s ability to provide important services to Australians abroad, including consular support.
“It is even less clear how the Department is expected to implement the Prime Minister’s grandiose international agenda, which includes everything from establishing an Asia‐Pacific Community to re‐invigorating nuclear non‐proliferation and disarmament negotiations.
“The funding cuts reflect the determination of the Prime Minister to centralise foreign policy decision making in his office, and further marginalise DFAT,” Senator Trood concluded.
4 November 2009
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Media Contact: Anastasia Glushko 0406 156 730