Posted on November 09, 2010
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has been dealt another body blow with the Labor Party today following through on an election promise to gouge an additional $45.5 million from the department’s budget.
The already cash strapped department will now undergo what the ALP is calling a “rationalisation” of diplomatic representation.
Last month DFAT Secretary Dennis Richardson told Senate estimates the department’s budget was already under pressure and he would prefer to make cuts in Canberra rather than undergo a further drawdown of Australia’s overseas representation.
But Liberal Senator for Queensland Russell Trood said it was hard to see how this announcement could result in anything other than a cutback in the number of DFAT staff operating overseas.
“What Wayne Swan has done today is confirm that the Gillard Government has no interest in advancing Australia’s national interests overseas,” he said.
“Between Foreign Minister Rudd’s global pretensions and Prime Minister Gillard’s complete apathy, our current foreign policy agenda is dangerously incoherent.
“That, coupled with the incessant threat of more and more budget cuts means DFAT simply cannot operate as it should”.
Senator Trood called on the Foreign Minister to explain precisely which aspects of DFAT’s activities will be scaled back to accommodate the new financial arrangements.
ENDS
Contact: Martin Kennedy 07 3372 4555