Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia) - Structure

Structure

The department is responsible to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Trade, currently Bob Carr and Craig Emerson respectively. The Foreign Minister is also assisted by a parliamentary secretary.

DFAT is administered by a senior executive, comprising a secretary and five deputy secretaries. The current secretary is Dennis Richardson. Previous secretaries have included Stuart Harris (1987-1988), Richard Woolcott (1988–1992), Peter Wilenski (1992-1993), Michael Costello (1993-1996), Philip Flood (1996-1998), Ashton Calvert (1998-2005) and Michael L'Estrange (2005–2009). 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. It is known but unspoken that "some" of the diplomats are secret agents for the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), which can be a useful cover to disguise travel whilst also providing diplomatic privileges such as diplomatic immunity. ASIS reports directly to and is controlled by the Foreign Minister.

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.

DFAT also manages several agencies within its portfolio, including:

• the Australian Passport Office;
• AusAID;
• Austrade;
• the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation;
• the Australian Secret Intelligence Service;
• the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office;
• and, the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research