Federal foreign affairs and trade department of the Australian Government
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
The head office of the department in the
ACT Formed 24 July 1987; 36 years ago (1987-07-24 )
[1] Preceding agencies Jurisdiction
Australian Government Headquarters
Barton ,
Australian Capital Territory Employees 5,367 (2,363 deployed overseas)
[2] Annual budget A$6.1 billion (2020–21)
[3] Ministers responsible Department executive Child agencies Website
dfat .gov .au
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 ). Australia's total
official development assistance (ODA) (USD 3 billion) decreased in 2022 due to differences in Australia's financial year reporting and the timing of its COVID-19-related expenditure, representing 0.19% of
gross national income (GNI) .
[6]
The head of the department is its
secretary , presently
Jan Adams . She reports to
Penny Wong , who has held the position of
Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2022.
[5]
History
The department finds its origins in two of the seven original Commonwealth Departments established following
Federation in 1901: the
Department of Trade and Customs and the
Department of External Affairs (DEA), headed by
Harry Wollaston and
Atlee Hunt respectively.
[7]
The first DEA was abolished on 14 November 1916 and its responsibilities were undertaken by the
Prime Minister's Department and the
Department of Home and Territories .
[8] It was re-established
under the same name on 21 December 1921.
[9]
Until the
Second World War , Australia's status as a
dominion of the
British Empire in the then
British Commonwealth meant its
foreign relations were mostly defined by the
United Kingdom . During this time, Australia's overseas activities were predominantly related to trade and commercial interests, while its external affairs were concerned mostly with immigration, exploration and publicity.
[7] The political and economic changes wrought by the
Great Depression and Second World War, and the adoption of the 1931
Statute of Westminster (ratified by Australia in 1942), necessitated the establishment and expansion of Australian representation overseas, independent of the
United Kingdom
Foreign Office . Australia began to establish its first
overseas missions (outside
London ) in 1940, beginning with
Washington, D.C. , and now has a network of over 80 diplomatic (and 22 trade) posts.
[7]
The DEA was renamed the
Department of Foreign Affairs in 1970. On 24 July 1987, the Department of Foreign Affairs and the
Department of Trade were amalgamated by the
Hawke government to form the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).[
citation needed ]
In
1994 , the
Australian Overseas Information Service (AOIS, formerly Australian Information Service) became a branch in DFAT known as the International Public Affairs Branch.
[10] In 1996 the branch was dissolved.
[11]
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.
Portfolio responsibilities
The functions of the department are broadly classified into the following matters as laid out in an
Administrative Arrangements Order issued on 18 September 2013:
[12] [
needs update ]
External Affairs, including:
relations and communications with overseas governments and
United Nations agencies
treaties, including trade agreements
bilateral, regional and multilateral trade policy
international trade and commodity negotiations
market development, including market access
trade and international business development
investment promotion
international development co-operation
diplomatic and consular missions
international security issues, including disarmament, arms control and nuclear non-proliferation
public diplomacy, including information and cultural programs
International expositions
Provision to Australian citizens of secure travel identification
Provision of consular services to Australian citizens abroad
Overseas property management, including acquisition, ownership and disposal of real property
Tourism industry (international)
International development and aid
Development and co-ordination of international
climate change policy
International climate change negotiations
Portfolio ministers
Four additional ministers support the Minister for Foreign Affairs in administering the Department, as of 2022
[update] :
[13]
Secretary of the Department
DFAT is administered by a senior executive, comprising a secretary and five deputy secretaries. On the recommendation of the
Prime Minister , the
Governor-General has appointed the following individuals as Secretary to the department:
Order
Official
Date appointment commenced
Date appointment ceased
Term in office
Ref(s)
1
Stuart Harris
AO
3 September 1984 (1984-09-03 )
3 July 1988 (1988-07-03 )
3 years, 304 days
[14]
[15]
[16]
2
Richard Woolcott
AC
1 September 1988 (1988-09-01 )
15 February 1992 (1992-02-15 )
3 years, 167 days
[16]
[17]
3
Peter Wilenski
AC
15 February 1992 (1992-02-15 )
14 May 1993 (1993-05-14 )
1 year, 88 days
[17]
[18]
[19]
4
Michael Costello
AO
27 May 1993 (1993-05-27 )
8 March 1996 (1996-03-08 )
2 years, 286 days
[20]
[21]
5
Philip Flood
AO
8 March 1996 (1996-03-08 )
31 March 1998 (1998-03-31 )
2 years, 23 days
[21]
6
Ashton Calvert
AC
1 April 1998 (1998-04-01 )
4 January 2005 (2005-01-04 )
6 years, 278 days
[22]
7
Michael L'Estrange
AO
24 January 2005 (2005-01-24 )
13 August 2009 (2009-08-13 )
4 years, 201 days
[22]
[23]
8
Dennis Richardson
AO
13 August 2009 (2009-08-13 )
18 October 2012 (2012-10-18 )
3 years, 66 days
[23]
[24]
9
Peter Varghese
AO
18 October 2012 (2012-10-18 )
22 July 2016 (2016-07-22 )
3 years, 278 days
[25]
[24]
10
Frances Adamson
AC
22 July 2016 (2016-07-22 )
25 June 2021 (2021-06-25 )
4 years, 338 days
[26]
[27]
[28]
[29]
11
Kathryn Campbell
AO ,
CSC &
Bar
22 July 2021 (2021-07-22 )
1 July 2022 (2022-07-01 )
344 days
[30]
12
Jan Adams
AO
PSM
1 July 2022 (2022-07-01 )
Incumbent
1 year, 283 days
[31]
Structure
The department is responsible to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment , the
Minister for International Development and the Pacific , and the Assistant Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment.
The department has around 3,300 employees, of whom 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.
Departmental structure
Office of the Secretary
Internal Audit Branch
Strategic Policy, Contestability and Futures Branch
Executive Branch
Global Cooperation, Development and Partnerships Group
Multilateral Policy Division
Development Policy Division
Multilateral Development and Finance Division
Public Diplomacy, Communications & Scholarships Division
Centre for Health Security
Office of Development Effectiveness
Innovation Xchange
Office of the Ambassador for the Environment
International Security, Humanitarian and Consular Group
International Security Division
Consular and Crisis Management Division
Humanitarian, NGOs and Partnerships Division
Legal Division
Middle East and Africa Division
Australian Safeguards and Non-proliferation Office
Office of the Ambassador for Cyber Affairs
Indo-Pacific Group
South-East Asia Division
North Asia Division
Pacific Division
US and Indo-Pacific Strategy Division
South-West Asia Division
Trade, Investment and Business Engagement Group
Office of Trade Negotiations
Investment and Economic Division
Free Trade Agreement Division
Europe and Latin America Division
Services Delivery Group
People Branches
Diplomatic Academy
Finance Branches
Security Branches
Information Management and Technology Division
Australian Passport Office
Overseas Property Office
Protocol Branch
Contracting and Aid Management Division
Diplomatic network
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.
Portfolio agencies
DFAT also manages several agencies within its portfolio, including:
DFAT also manages foundations, councils and institutes including:
[32]
See also
References
^
a
b
c
"Our history" . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Retrieved 17 October 2020 .
^ Martin, Lou-Ellen (2021).
"Annual Report 2020–21" (PDF) . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Retrieved 17 March 2022 .
^
"Budget highlights 2020–21" . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Retrieved 17 October 2020 .
^
a
b
c
d
e
"Portfolio Overview" (PDF) . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Retrieved 17 October 2020 .
^
a
b
"Portfolio ministers" . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . Retrieved 23 May 2022 .
^ OECD.
"Development Co-operation Profiles 2023 - Australia" . OECD Publishing, Paris. Retrieved 14 September 2023 .
^
a
b
c
"History of the Department" . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 8 August 2007 .
^
"Our History" . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 11 May 2020 .
^ Parliamentary Handbook of the Commonwealth of Australia, 20th ed, 1978, pp. 289-290
^
"Fact Sheet Forty Seven: Australian Overseas Information Service photographs" .
National Archives of Australia . 2000. Archived from
the original on 12 February 2006. Retrieved 12 May 2006 .
^
"Australian News and Information Bureau" . The Dictionary of Sydney . Retrieved 27 December 2020 .
^
"Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF) .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet .
Commonwealth of Australia . 18 September 2013. Archived from
the original (PDF) on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013 .
^
"Ministry List as at 1 June 2022" (PDF) . Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 4 June 2022 .
^ Harris was Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs beginning on 3 September 1984 until it was renamed the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in July 1987.
^
Hawke, Bob (23 July 1987).
"For the media" .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release).
Commonwealth of Australia . Archived from
the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013 .
^
a
b
Hawke, Bob (2 June 1988).
"For the media" .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release).
Commonwealth of Australia . Archived from
the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013 .
^
a
b
Hawke, Bob (8 November 1991).
"For the media" .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release).
Commonwealth of Australia . Archived from
the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013 .
^
Keating, Paul (14 May 1993).
"Dr Peter Wilenski AO" .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release).
Commonwealth of Australia . Archived from
the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013 .
^ Mitcham, Chad.
"Peter Stephen Wilenski (1939–1994)" .
Australian Dictionary of Biography . National Centre of Biography,
Australian National University .
ISSN
1833-7538 .
^
Keating, Paul (26 May 1993).
"Appointment of Departmental Secretaries" .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release).
Commonwealth of Australia . Archived from
the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013 .
^
a
b
Howard, John (8 March 1996).
"Statement by the Prime Minister designate, The Hon John Howard MP" .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release).
Commonwealth of Australia . Archived from
the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013 .
^
a
b
Howard, John (2 December 2004).
"Dr Ashton Calvert AC" .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release).
Commonwealth of Australia . Archived from
the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013 .
^
a
b
Rudd, Kevin (13 August 2009).
"Departmental secretaries and statutory office-holders, Canberra" .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release).
Commonwealth of Australia . Archived from
the original on 10 November 2013. Retrieved 10 November 2013 .
^
a
b
Gillard, Julia (17 September 2012).
"Diplomatic Appointment and Appointment of Secretaries of the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade" .
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release).
Commonwealth of Australia . Archived from
the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 27 October 2013 .
^
"Mr Peter N Varghese AO - Biographical details" . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade .
Commonwealth of Australia . 3 December 2012. Archived from
the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013 .
^ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2016),
Biography of Ms Frances Adamson , Australian Government,
archived from the original on 17 August 2016
^ Doran, Matthew (20 July 2016).
"Frances Adamson appointed as DFAT's first female secretary" . ABC News . Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from
the original on 5 August 2016.
^ Mannheim, Markus (20 July 2016).
"Frances Adamson becomes Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's first female secretary" . The Canberra Times . Fairfax Media.
Archived from the original on 17 August 2016.
^
Turnbull, Malcolm (20 July 2016).
"Ms Frances Adamson appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from
the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2016 .
^
"Secretary and Deputy Secretaries" .
^
"Announcement of Department Secretaries" . Prime Minister of Australia. 22 June 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022 .
^
"Foundations, councils and institutes - Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade" . Dfat.gov.au. Retrieved 17 October 2018 .
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