Ambassador for First Nations People Justin Mohamed’s contract extended

The Albanese government has lengthened the contract of globetrotting Ambassador for First Nations People Justin Mohamed by a surprising amount of time.

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Controversial First Nations People ambassador Justin Mohamed’s contract has been extended — by six months only.

A Commonwealth contract amendment notice was published this week revealing Mr Mohamed will receive $189,787.50 for “strategic planning consultation services” over the extra half year, starting next month.

“The contract with Ambassador Mohamed has been extended so he can continue to perform his duties for all Australians,” a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) spokeswoman said.

The additional amount brings his total pay to $948,937.50 since the Albanese government announced the appointment of Mr Mohamed to the new role, which does not exist anywhere else in the world.

Controversy has surrounded the position, with the Opposition raising concerns about the purpose and costs.

Justin Mohamed attends a reception in his honour at the Australian Embassy in Paris in 2024. Source: LinkedIn

Mr Mohamed’s job description initially said he would “engage regional partners on the Voice, Treaty, Truth process,” but that function has been removed since the Voice referendum was voted down.

His international travel expenses have approached $250,000, including three business-class trips to Geneva – one via Paris – and six to the US, along with several to Pacific nations.

As well as representing Australia abroad, Mr Mohamed is responsible for providing “strategic guidance on the development and implementation of a First Nations approach to foreign policy.”

To help him do that, last year the government awarded a $266,000 contract to an inner Sydney-based consultancy to “support culturally appropriate consultations with First Nations stakeholders”.

The DFAT spokeswoman said “Australia’s First Nations international engagement is a powerful element of our diplomacy. It supports Australia and our shared region’s security and prosperity, strengthens foreign policy, and delivers strategic, trade and multilateral results for all Australians, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.”

The Opposition has said it will abolish the role if it wins the election.

Mr Mohamed did not respond to a request for comment.

He was however interviewed for a podcast on “feminist and First Nations approaches to foreign policy” in which he said: “I know the rest of the world are also watching what our next steps are after the referendum.”

Mr Mohamed with Ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd in Honolulu in June 2024. Picture: Supplied

Since the “no” vote, he said he was being asked about “Australia and its commitment to First Nations People because of the result of the referendum.”

“However, the commitment from the foreign affairs minister, the commitment from (the) Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has not altered,” he added.

Asked how he would define First Nations foreign policy, he replied: “Imagine this, if I’m standing on the edge of Australia and I go out 100 kilometres and able to swing around and turn back and see what’s written about Australia to the rest of the world in our foreign policies, I should be able to see myself, my family, and many other of the nations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people reflected in every part of what we have in our foreign policies. That’s what I’d like to see.”

It’s understood Mr Mohamed’s initial contract had the potential built in for an extension. It’s not known whether six months was the maximum. DFAT did not respond when asked.