FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND TRADE PORTFOLIO

In Attendance

Senator Bob Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Budget Overview

Mr Peter Varghese, Departmental Secretary

Ms Gillian Bird, Deputy Secretary and Ambassador to ASEAN

Mr Rod Smith, First Assistant Secretary, Corporate Management Division

Ms Jan Adams, Deputy Secretary

Ms Ann Thorpe, Chief Finance Officer

Mr Jeff Roach, Assistant Secretary, Executive Planning and Evaluation Branch

Mr Simon Merrifield, Assistant Secretary, Parliamentary and Media Branch

Outcome 1: The advancement of Australia's international strategic, security and economic interests including through bilateral, regional and multilateral engagement on Australian Government foreign and trade policy priorities

Program 1.1 Foreign Affairs and Trade Operations

North Asia:

Mr Peter Rowe, First Assistant Secretary, North Asia Division

South-East Asia:

Mr Allaster Cox, First Assistant Secretary, South-East Asia Division

Americas:

Dr Brendon Hammer, First Assistant Secretary, Americas and Africa Division

Africa:

Dr Brendon Hammer, First Assistant Secretary, Americas and Africa Division

Europe:

Mr Jeremy Newman, First Assistant Secretary, Europe Division

South and West Asia, Middle East and Africa:

Ms Jennifer Rawson, First Assistant Secretary, South and West Asia and Middle East Division

Pacific:

Mr Lachlan Strahan, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Pacific Division

Ms Kate Logan, Assistant Secretary, Papua New Guinea and Fiji Branch, Pacific Division

International organisations, Legal and Environment

Ms Harinder Sidhu, First Assistant Secretary, International Organisations and Legal Division

Mr Richard Rowe, Senior Legal Adviser, International Organisations and Legal Division

Mr Craig Chittick, Ambassador for People Smuggling Issues, International Organisations and Legal Division

Mr Jon Merrill, Assistant Secretary, Head of UNSC Task Force

Dr Greg French, Assistant Secretary, International Legal Branch, International Organisations and Legal Division

Ms Amanda Gorely, Assistant Secretary, Domestic Legal Branch, International Organisations and Legal Division

Mr Noel Campbell, Assistant Secretary, International Organisations Branch, International Organisations and Legal Division

Mr Bassim Blazey, Assistant Secretary, Environment Branch, International Organisations and Legal Division

Ms Penny Williams, Global Ambassador for Women and Girls

Mr Ben Playle, Director, Sanctions and Transnational Crime Section

Security, Nuclear Disarmament and Non-Proliferation:

Dr Robert Floyd, Director-General, Australian Safeguards and Non Proliferation Office

Dr John Kalish, Assistant Secretary, Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office

Ms Caroline Millar, First Assistant Secretary, International Security Division

John Quinn, Assistant Secretary, Strategic Issues and Intelligence Branch, International Security Division

Ms Paula Watt, Director, Counter-Terrorism Policy Section, Counter-Terrorism Branch, International Security Division

Services to Other Agencies:

Mr Justin Brown, First Assistant Secretary, Consular, Public Diplomacy and Parliamentary Affairs Division

Mr Simon Merrifield, Assistant Secretary, Parliamentary and Media Branch

Mr Rod Smith, First Assistant Secretary, Corporate Management Division

Mr Tuan Dao, Chief Information Officer, Information Management and Technology Division

Ms Minoli Perera, Acting Executive Director, Overseas Property Office and Services

Mr Keith Harmsworth, Assistant Secretary Project Management Branch, Overseas Property Office and Services

Services to Diplomatic/Consular Representatives in Australia:

Ms Sally Mansfield, Assistant Secretary, Protocol Branch

Public information services and public diplomacy:

Mr Justin Brown, First Assistant Secretary, Consular, Public Diplomacy and Parliamentary Affairs Division

Mr Simon Merrifield, Assistant Secretary, Parliamentary and Media Branch

Program 1.2: Payments to International Organisations (Administered)

Ms Harinder Sidhu, First Assistant Secretary, International Organisations and Legal Division

Program 1.3: Public Information Services and Public Diplomacy (Administered)

Mr Justin Brown, First Assistant Secretary, Consular, Public Diplomacy and Parliamentary Affairs Division

Mr Simon Merrifield, Assistant Secretary, Parliamentary and Media Branch, Consular, Public Diplomacy and Parliamentary Affairs Division

Outcome 2: The protection and welfare of Australians abroad and access to secure international travel documentation through timely and responsive travel advice and consular and passport services in Australia and overseas

Program 2.1: Consular Services

Mr Justin Brown, First Assistant Secretary, Consular, Public Diplomacy and Parliamentary Affairs Division

Program 2.2: Passport Services

Ms Penny Williams, Executive Director, Australian Passports Office

Mr Tuan Dao, Chief Information Officer, Information Management and Technology Division

Outcome 3: A secure Australian Government presence overseas through the provision of security services and information and communications technology infrastructure, and the management of the Commonwealth's overseas property estate

Program 3.1 Foreign Affairs and Trade Operations

Mr Rod Smith, First Assistant Secretary, Corporate Management Division

Mr Tuan Dao, Chief Information Officer, Information Management and Technology Division

Program 3.2: Overseas Property

Ms Minoli Perera, Acting Executive Director, Overseas Property Office and Services

Mr Keith Harmsworth, Assistant Secretary Project Management Branch, Overseas Property Office and Services

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade — trade programs

Bilateral, regional and multilateral trade negotiations

Trade development/policy coordination

Ms Jan Adams, Deputy Secretary

Mr Sam Gerovich, First Assistant Secretary, Trade and Economic Policy Division

Mr Daniel Sloper, First Assistant Secretary, G20

Ms Frances Lisson, Acting First Assistant Secretary, Free Trade Agreement Division

Mr Michael Mugliston, Special Negotiator, Free Trade Agreement Division

Mr Christopher de Cure, First Assistant Secretary, Office of Trade Negotiations

Mr Michael Dean, Director, Pacific Division

Export Finance and Insurance Corporation (EFIC)

Mr Stuart Neilson, Acting CEO, Export Finance and Insurance Corporation

Mr John Hopkins, General Counsel and Board Secretary, Export Finance and Insurance Corporation

Mr John Pacey, Chief Credit Officer, Export Finance and Insurance Corporation

Mr Jan Parsons, Director, Environmental and Technical Review, Export Finance and Insurance Corporation

Australian Trade Commission (Austrade)

Outcome 1: Advance Australia's trade and investment and education promotion interests through information, advice and services to businesses, industry and governments

Program 1:1: Trade and investment promotion

Program 1.2: Trade development schemes — Export Market Development Grants (EMDG)

Program 1.3: Trade development schemes — Asian Century Business Engagement Plan (EMDG)

Outcome 2: The protection and welfare of Australians abroad and access to secure international travel documentation through timely and responsive travel advice and consular and passport services in Australia and overseas

Program 2.1: Consular and passport services

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)

Outcome 1: To achieve more productive and sustainable agricultural systems for the benefit of developing countries and Australia through international agricultural research and training partnerships.

Dr Simon Hearn, Adviser

Mr David Shearer, Director Corporate

Australian Agency for International Development

Mr Peter Baxter, Director General

Outcome 1—To assist developing countries to reduce poverty and achieve sustainable development, in line with Australia’s national interest

Mr James Batley, Deputy Director General

Mr Ewen McDonald, Deputy Director General

Mr Gary Dunn, Chief Operating Officer

Mr Rob Tranter, First Assistant Director General, Pacific Division

Mr Roderick Brazier, First Assistant Director General, East Asia Division

Ms Margaret McKinnon, First Assistant Director General, Africa and Community Programs Division

Mr Scott Dawson, First Assistant Director General, South and West Asia Division

Mr Alan March, Acting First Assistant Director General, Humanitarian and Stabilisation Division

Ms Clare Walsh, First Assistant Director General, International Policy and Partnerships Division

Mr Blair Exell, First Assistant Director General, Policy and Sector Division

Mr Laurie Dunn, First Assistant Director General, Program Effectiveness and Performance Division

Ms Natasha Smith, Acting First Assistant Director General, Corporate Enabling Division

Mr Paul Wood, Chief Financial Officer

Ms Lisa Rauter, Assistant Director General, Africa Branch

Mr Mark Tattersall, Acting Assistant Director General, Afghanistan and Pakistan Branch

Ms Caitlin Wilson, Assistant Director General, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands Branch

Mr Dereck Rooken-Smith, Assistant Director General, Office of Development Effectiveness

Mr Alistair Sherwin, Assistant Director General, Risk Management and Fraud Control Branch

Mr Andrew Cumpston, Assistant Director General, Budget Branch

Outcome 2—Australia’s national interest advanced by implementing a partnership between Australian and Indonesia for reconstruction and development

Mr James Batley, Deputy Director General

Mr Roderick Brazier, First Assistant Director General, East Asia Division

Committee met at 09:01.

CHAIR ( Senator Stephens ): I declare open this meeting of the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee. I welcome back Senator Bob Carr, Minister for Foreign Affairs; Mr Peter Varghese, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade; and officers of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Today the committee will examine the budget estimates for the foreign affairs and trade portfolio, beginning with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade until 4:30 pm, followed by the DFAT trade portfolio in conjunction with Austrade and EFIC from 4:30 pm to 6 pm, and AusAID will be held from 6 pm onwards this evening. As I announced yesterday, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research has been excused. The topics will be considered set out in the order in the agenda. A full opening statement was read into the record yesterday morning.