Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Budget Sustainability

The Australian Government is providing an additional $48.0 million over four years to enable the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to continue to deliver on Australia's expanding foreign policy and trade priorities.

Since the Department's funding base was last set in 2000, the Government's trade and foreign affairs agenda has expanded significantly, and new policy and consular priorities have emerged. Several of these initiatives have become permanent features of the Government's agenda, and this decision recognises that additional resources are required to sustain the current level of service and advice provided by the Department.

In particular, this measure will ensure the Government will continue to:

Provide a high quality consular service to travelling Australians at a time when consular demands have expanded significantly and the consular caseload has become more complex, sensitive and challenging;

Defend and advocate Australia's trade and economic interests through the World Trade Organisation;

Implement and service the bilateral free trade agreements established since 2000, in particular with Singapore, Thailand and the United States, while continuing to manage Australia's traditional bilateral trade agenda; and

Maintain the Government's policy of more active engagement with our key regional partners in the South Pacific.

Media inquiries : (Minister Downer) 02 6277 7500 - (Minister Vaile) 02 6277 7420