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Encyclopedia > Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Agency overview
Formed 24 July 1987
Preceding Agencies Department of Foreign Affairs
 
Department of Trade
Jurisdiction Commonwealth Government
Employees 3,400
Annual Budget AU$1.5 billion (2006/07)
Ministers Responsible Alexander Downer, Foreign Minister
 
Warren Truss, Trade Minister
Child Agencies AusAID
 
Austrade
 
ASIS
 
EFIC
Website
dfat.gov.au

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is a department of the Commonwealth Government charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally. It manages the Government's foreign relations and trade policies, and is responsible to the ministers for Foreign Affairs and Trade. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ... The Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional monarchy, a federation, and a parliamentary democracy. ... ISO 4217 Code AUD User(s) Australia, Kiribati, Nauru, Tuvalu, Christmas Island, Cocos (Keeling) Islands, and Norfolk Island Inflation 2. ... Alexander John Gosse Downer, MP (born 9 September 1951), Australian politician, became Foreign Minister of Australia in March 1996 This makes him the longest serving Foreign Minister in Australian history. ... R. G. Casey House, the headquarters of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade This is a list of Australian Foreign Ministers: Note: Prior to 1970, the office was known as the Minister for External Affairs. ... Hon Warren Truss The Hon Warren Errol Truss MP (born 8 October 1948), is an Australian politician. ... The Australian Minister for Trade has been the Hon Warren Truss since August 2006. ... AusAID, formally the Australian Agency for International Development, is the Australian organisation responsible for delivering most non-military foreign aid. ... The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is an Australian government agency that aims to assist Australian businesses in entering overseas export markets, and in doing so boost the national economy. ... R. G. Casey House, the headquarters of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) is the Australian government intelligence agency responsible for collecting foreign intelligence, undertaking counter-intelligence activities and cooperation with other intelligence agencies overseas. ... The Export Finance and Incsurance Corporation (EFIC) is Australia’s Export Credit Agency (ECA) and has carried out its role within various statutory frameworks since 1957. ... The Commonwealth of Australia is a constitutional monarchy, a federation, and a parliamentary democracy. ... RG Casey House, Canberra, is the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the department responsible for the formulation and enactment of Australian foreign policy. ... R. G. Casey House, the headquarters of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade This is a list of Australian Foreign Ministers: Note: Prior to 1970, the office was known as the Minister for External Affairs. ... The Australian Minister for Trade has been the Hon Warren Truss since August 2006. ...


The department is headquartered in the Canberra suburb of Barton, near Parliament House. For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... Categories: Suburbs of Canberra (incomplete) | Suburbs of Canberra ... Parliament House Canberra: The main entrance and the flag mast. ...

Contents

History

The department finds its origins in two of the seven original Commonwealth Departments established following Federation: the Department of Trade and Customs and the Department of External Affairs, headed by Harry Wollaston and Atlee Hunt respectively.[1] The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed a federation. ...


Until the Second World War, Australia's status as a dominion of the British Empire then realm in the British Commonwealth meant its foreign relations were mostly defined by the United Kingdom. During this time, Australia's overseas activities were predominately related to trade and commercial interests, while its external affairs were concerned mostly with immigration, exploration and publicity.[1] Between 1916 and 1921, the External Affairs Department was dissolved and its responsibilities were undertaken by the Prime Minister's Department. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... This article is about Dominions of the British Empire and of the Commonwealth of Nations. ... The British Empire in 1897, marked in pink, the traditional colour for Imperial British dominions on maps. ... The Commonwealth Realms, shown in pink A Commonwealth Realm is any one of the sixteen sovereign states within the Commonwealth of Nations that recognise Elizabeth II as their respective monarch. ... The Commonwealth of Nations as of 2006 Headquarters Marlborough House, London, UK Official languages English Membership 53 sovereign states Leaders  -  Queen Elizabeth II  -  Secretary-General Don McKinnon (since 1 April 2000) Establishment  -  Balfour Declaration 18 November 1926   -  Statute of Westminster 11 December 1931   -  London Declaration 28 April 1949  Area  -  Total... RG Casey House, Canberra, is the headquarters of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the department responsible for the formulation and enactment of Australian foreign policy. ... The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is an Australian Government department. ...


The political and economic changes wrought by the Great Depression and Second World War, and the adoption of the Statute of Westminster, necessitated the establishment and expansion of Australian representation overseas, independent of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Australia began to establish its first overseas missions (outside of London) in 1940, beginning with Washington, D.C., and now has a network of over 80 diplomatic (and 22 trade) posts.[1] For other uses, see The Great Depression (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Statute of Westminster relating to the British Empire and its dominions. ... The Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Whitehall, seen from St. ... Australian High Commission in London Australian Embassy in Paris Australian Embassy in Tokyo Australian Embassy in Manila Australian Embassy in Warsaw Australian High Commission in Wellington Australia House in Ottawa the residence of the Australian high commissioner to Canada Australian diplomatic missions are posts representing the Commonwealth of Australia in... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ...


The Department of Foreign Affairs (renamed from 'external affairs' in 1970) and the Department of Trade were amalgamated by the Hawke Labor Government to form DFAT on 24 July 1987. Robert James Lee (Bob) Hawke, AC (born 9 December 1929) was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia after previously being an Australian trade union leader. ... is the 205th day of the year (206th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...


In 2005, DFAT became embroiled in the Oil-for-Food Programme scandal after it was revealed it had approved the Australian Wheat Board's (AWB) request allowing it to pay 'trucking charges' to Alia, a Jordanian trucking company with no actual involvement in the trucking of Australian wheat within Iraq. The Cole Inquiry into the AWB was established, however its terms of reference excluded any investigation of the role of DFAT. The Oil-for-Food Programme, established by the United Nations in 1995 (under UN Security Council Resolution 986) and terminated in late 2003, was intended to allow Iraq to sell oil on the world market in exchange for food, medicine, and other humanitarian needs for ordinary Iraqi citizens without allowing... AWB Limited (ASX: AWB) is the Australian company that oversees the exports of grain, particularly wheat. ... The Cole Inquiry, formally the Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-For-Food Programme was a Royal Commission set up by the Government of Australia in November 2005. ...


Objectives

The department has six key goals, as stated on its website:[2]

  • enhance Australia's security
  • contribute to growth in Australia's economy, employment and standard of living
  • assist Australian travellers and Australians overseas
  • strengthen global cooperation in ways that advance Australia's interests
  • foster public understanding of Australia's foreign and trade policy and project a positive image of Australia internationally
  • manage efficiently the Commonwealth's overseas owned estate.

Structure

The RG Casey Building in Canberra, DFAT's headquarters.

The department is responsible to the two cabinet ministers, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Trade. The current ministers are Alexander Downer and Warren Truss, respectively. The Foreign Minister is also assisted by a parliamentary secretary, currently Greg Hunt. Photo by Adam Carr This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Photo by Adam Carr This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... For other uses, see Canberra (disambiguation). ... R. G. Casey House, the headquarters of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade This is a list of Australian Foreign Ministers: Note: Prior to 1970, the office was known as the Minister for External Affairs. ... The Australian Minister for Trade has been the Hon Warren Truss since August 2006. ... Alexander John Gosse Downer, MP (born 9 September 1951), Australian politician, became Foreign Minister of Australia in March 1996 This makes him the longest serving Foreign Minister in Australian history. ... Hon Warren Truss The Hon Warren Errol Truss MP (born 8 October 1948), is an Australian politician. ... In the parliamentary systems of several Commonwealth countries, such as Canada and Australia, it is customary for the prime minister to appoint parliamentary secretaries (in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, parliamentary assistants) from their caucus to assist cabinet ministers with their work. ... Hon Greg Hunt Gregory Andrew Hunt (born 18 November 1965), an Australian politician, has been a Liberal member of the Australian House of Representatives since November 2001, representing the Division of Flinders, Victoria. ...


DFAT is administered by a senior executive, comprising a secretary and five deputy secretaries. The current secretary is Michael L'Estrange. It has a staff of around 3,300 employees, of which 1,300 are foreign staff employed by missions directly, and 1,500 are Australian employees based in Australia, and some 500 are diplomats serving overseas.


The department maintains offices in each state and mainland territory to provide consular and passport services, and to perform an important liaison service for business throughout Australia. In addition, it has a Torres Strait Treaty Liaison Office on Thursday Island. Additionally, the department manages a network of over 90 overseas posts, including Australian embassies, high commissions, consulates-general and consulates. The states and territories of Australia make up the Commonwealth of Australia under a federal system of government. ... Thursday Island is the administrative and commercial centre of the Torres Strait Islands. ... Australian High Commission in London Australian Embassy in Paris Australian Embassy in Tokyo Australian Embassy in Manila Australian Embassy in Warsaw Australian High Commission in Wellington Australia House in Ottawa the residence of the Australian high commissioner to Canada Australian diplomatic missions are posts representing the Commonwealth of Australia in...


DFAT also manages several agencies within its portfolio, including:

AusAID, formally the Australian Agency for International Development, is the Australian organisation responsible for delivering most non-military foreign aid. ... The Australian Trade Commission (Austrade) is an Australian government agency that aims to assist Australian businesses in entering overseas export markets, and in doing so boost the national economy. ... The Export Finance and Incsurance Corporation (EFIC) is Australia’s Export Credit Agency (ECA) and has carried out its role within various statutory frameworks since 1957. ... R. G. Casey House, the headquarters of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service The Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) is the Australian government intelligence agency responsible for collecting foreign intelligence, undertaking counter-intelligence activities and cooperation with other intelligence agencies overseas. ...

See also

This is a list of Australian Commonwealth Government departments, bureaus, authorities and commissions. ...

References

  1. ^ a b c History of the Department. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.
  2. ^ What We Do. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved on 2007-08-08.

Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Website
  • National Indigenous Times article on Trent Smith who was dismissed by DFAT then re-employed after lengthy legal proceedings
  • A site on public sector accountability in Australia with documentation obtained under Freedom of Information on several issues relating to the Code of Conduct in DFAT

Coordinates: 35°18′36″S 149°07′50″E / -35.3100, 149.1305 Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...

Departments of the Australian Government
Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | Attorney-General's | Communications, Information Technology and the Arts | Defence | Education, Science and Training | Employment and Workplace Relations | Environment and Water Resources | Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs | Finance and Administration | Foreign Affairs and Trade | Health and Ageing | Human Services | Immigration and Citizenship | Industry, Tourism and Resources | Prime Minister and Cabinet | Transport and Regional Services | Treasury

  Results from FactBites:
 
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (345 words)
The department is an amalgamation of two of the original government departments created shortly after the federation of Australia, the Department of Trade and Customs and the Department of External Affairs, and was created in 1987.
The headquarters of the Department are located in Canberra in the suburb of Barton, Australian Capital Territory on State Circle between Brisbane Ave and Sydney Ave, near Parliament House.
The department's main aim is to protect and advance the national interest of Australia — as defined by the federal government — and to promote Australia as a nation overseas.
Minister for Foreign Affairs (Australia) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (240 words)
In the Government of Australia, the Minister for Foreign Affairs is responsible for overseeing the international diplomacy section of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The minister is usually one of the most senior members of Cabinet — the position is equivalent to that of Secretary of State in the United States or Foreign Secretary in the United Kingdom — as shown by the fact that eleven Prime Ministers of Australia have also worked as the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The minister is seen as one of the people most responsible for formulating Australia's foreign policy, as they along with other relevant ministers advise the Prime Minister in developing and implementing foreign policy, and also acts as the government's main spokesperson on international affairs issues.
  More results at FactBites »


 
 

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