- by cnn
- 15 Aug 2024
Some parts of Australia's overseas diplomatic network are "stretched to the point of ineffectiveness" and need a staffing boost, a review has warned the government.
The review, overseen in part by the influential foreign policy expert Allan Gyngell who died last week, has identified "serious gaps" in Australia's foreign service.
It calls for reforms over the next 10 years to ensure the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade can "make Australia's case and seek to avert shocks or conflict".
This should include boosting numbers at some diplomatic posts where currently only one person is stationed.
Over time, it says, the government should raise to three the minimum number of people representing Australia at most posts "to ensure a staffing profile with the capacity to achieve outcomes".
The review also urges the government to increase the budget for public diplomacy, so that more of Australia's embassies can produce video content to spread their key messages.
It calls for a cyber attack response team to be created to help Pacific countries respond to potentially debilitating cyber activity.
The C919, China’s first domestically produced narrow-body jet, has officially entered the commercial aviation market, marking a significant shift in the global airline sector. With its entry, the C919 poses a formidable challenge to the long-standing dominance of Boeing and Airbus, offering airlines a third option that could disrupt the current duopoly. The impact of this development is expected to ripple across the travel industry, influencing airline competition, passenger choices, and global aviation dynamics.
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