Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2026-2027
Ms CLUTTERHAM (Sturt) (17:27): I rise to contribute to this consideration in detail regarding the portfolio of foreign affairs and trade. Now, the work of this portfolio is directed at promoting and protecting Australia's interests overseas in support of our security and prosperity. We do this by maintaining a global diplomatic presence, and we have an overseas network spanning 114 overseas posts and consulates in 85 countries of resident accreditation around the world.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also works to shape our international strategic policy to strengthen our economic engagement with our partners, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region, and to provide development assistance. Global conflicts and challenges, trade and investment opportunities, the application and upholding of international rules, support for regional stability and support for Australians overseas all form part of this portfolio.
In this respect, there are more than one million Australians overseas at any time, and the portfolio leads and coordinates efforts to help Australians in trouble overseas. In the 2025 financial year, the department managed over 26,000 cases of consular and crisis assistance and responded to over 61,000 calls to the consular emergency centre. The department supports around 1,500 consular cases at any one time, and earlier this year the department sprang into action to assist the thousands of Australians living, working and visiting countries in the Middle East after the conflict in Iran began.
Building relationships around the region and strengthening our partnerships with our neighbours has been a hallmark of this government. Our region benefits from stability and peace. When Australia is peaceful and stable, when the Indo-Pacific is peaceful and stable, the entire region benefits.
Peace and stability across Australia and the Indo-Pacific and meaningful cooperation between all countries in the region sends a strong message that goes beyond. That message, which this government prosecutes, is that when collective responsibility is used to secure and maintain peace and stability, everybody benefits. It speaks to the importance of sustaining productive and mutually beneficial relationships with our regional partners, our traditional allies and our European, Asian and Canadian middle-power friends.
The need to continue to generate, maintain and then further build regional security is an imperative that has been rightly recognised with this government's facilitation of both the Jakarta Treaty with Indonesia and the Pukpuk, or crocodile, Treaty with Papua New Guinea. Regional security and stability lead to the creation and maintenance of circumstances in which the aspirations of the Indo-Pacific can be best realised, steering economic development and prosperity for all countries in the region.
Stable regions have stable, resilient and fair economic environments that can grow and thrive, which is good for citizens and, importantly, good for democracy. Relationships with our regional partners have proven fruitful in recent months, with the government able to draw on these meaningful partnerships to secure additional fuel and fertiliser supplies for the Australian people in the midst of one of the most serious energy accessibility crises the world has ever seen.
We would not have been at the front of the queue without having first done the work to build those relationships, which included exploring and crystallising what is mutually beneficial from a gain-of-trade perspective. The time to build relationships is not when a crisis arises; the right time is all times, which is the approach this government has taken and the approach that has been successful.
The EFA, legally constituted as the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation, also falls under this portfolio. It's Australia's export credit agency, and it is also playing a critical role in fuel security. Last month, approximately 100 million litres of additional diesel was secured for Australians, with two shipments coming from Brunei and South Korea.
This is the first of the expected shipments of fuel secured under the government's new strategic reserve powers, which saw Export Finance Australia partnering with Viva Energy to facilitate this purpose. Export Finance Australia has also reached commercial terms with Ampol, IOR and Park Fuels, supporting them to purchase the additional fuel needed to address regional shortages and critical supply gaps.
We now have more fuel in this country than prior to 28 February. Perhaps the minister could update the chamber as to where we stand.