2016 Foreign Affairs Budget
The 2016 Budget continues the Turnbull Government's commitment to strengthening Australia's national security, promoting economic prosperity and helping our economy transition to create jobs.
The Turnbull Government will deliver a further $9.2 million to maintain the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's People Smuggling and Human Trafficking Taskforce.
The Taskforce plays a critical role in promoting effective and practical international cooperation to support the Turnbull Government's efforts to combat people smuggling and human trafficking.
The Budget also provides $2.7 million to establish Australia's first Cyber Ambassador, as part of the Turnbull Government's response to cyber security threats.
Australia's Cyber Ambassador will promote our position on internet governance and cyber security. The Turnbull Government will also establish a $4 million cyber cooperation program to improve cyber security in the Indo-Pacific region.
The Turnbull Government will also commit $39.4 million to open two new overseas consulates, in consultation with host governments, in China and in Lae in Papua New Guinea as part of our 'economic diplomacy' agenda.
The new post in China will promote the Turnbull Government's national economic plan for growth and jobs following ratification of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
A new Consulate-General in China will assist Australian businesses to expand commercial opportunities in the food, agriculture, clean technology and education sectors.
The Consulate-General in Lae, which I announced at the recent Australia-PNG Ministerial Forum, will help bolster our growing bilateral trade and investment relationship with PNG and facilitate delivery of Australia's $477.3 million aid investment.
Lae is PNG's commercial capital, home of its largest port and the gateway connecting PNG's island regions and the highlands where the majority of Papua New Guineans live.
Australia will also provide an estimated $3.8 billion in total Official Development Assistance (ODA) in 2016-17, making us approximately the 12th largest donor in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The aid program will continue to focus on the Indo-Pacific region.
The Budget highlights Australia's ongoing commitment to humanitarian assistance. Australia will increase the Emergency Fund to $130 million in 2016-17, to enable timely and effective responses to disasters and other humanitarian crises.
The Turnbull Government will provide a further $220 million over the next three years to address the humanitarian and longer-term resilience needs in Syria and neighbouring countries hosting large numbers of refugees. Australia's humanitarian response to the Syrian crisis amounts to $213 million since 2011.
The Budget includes over $100 million for gender equality programs and for the innovationXchange, which is delivering solutions to complex development challenges in the Indo-Pacific region.
In 2016-17, Australia will also invest $200 million to support our five-year $1 billion commitment to addressing climate change. This will support developing countries to build climate resilience and reduce emissions.
The Turnbull Government is committed to protecting our national interests, contributing to regional and global stability, security and prosperity, and strengthening our engagement in the Indo-Pacific region.