Coalition to refocus foreign affairs, raising prospect of more posts

THE Coalition will if elected today refocus the priorities of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Julie Bishop

THE Coalition will if elected today refocus the priorities of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on promoting the economic interests of the Australian people and businesses.

It will at the same time, it says in its new foreign policy statement, review within six months DFAT's diplomatic resources "to ensure it is consistent with our interests", anticipating increased posts and staff.

Much smaller countries, including Finland, Belgium and Greece, now have bigger diplomatic networks than Australia.

Its statement identifies Kevin Rudd as the source of many of the government's problems in foreign affairs.

"Even the most casual observer of (his) approach to foreign policy must wonder at his priorities and values," as Foreign Minister visiting Liechtenstein before Papua New Guinea, while "his return as prime minister has seen a return to his old habits".

The Coalition says it will aim to build on the Lombok Treaty signed by John Howard with Indonesia, broadening and deepening security, economic and educational links and doing "all we can to repair the trade relationship following the live cattle export fiasco".

It says that in contrast with the Rudd government, under which Canberra took Tokyo to the International Court of Justice in a bitter dispute over whaling, it will build "a stronger strategic partnership" with Japan - which is expanding its security role under Prime Minister Shinzo Abe - and pledges it will finalise the long-delayed Australia-Japan free trade agreement.

It anticipates returning to the stable and fruitful relationship with China from the John Howard years.

"The Howard government showed that it was possible to have a strong relationship with China while managing differences over sensitive issues like ministerial contact with the Dalai Lama and Taiwan."

It says it will restore annual ministerial level visits to Taiwan, Australia's sixth biggest export target.

It will review the effectiveness of the sanctions against the Fiji military regime with a view towards normalising relations in the run-up towards elections due by September 2014.

It says the relationship with India "could and should be much closer," with uranium sales - viewed by New Delhi as a key indicator of engagement - still awaiting the conclusion of a safeguards agreement. The Coalition wants to develop "a genuine strategic partnership" with India.

The first big foreign policy initiative to be implemented following a Coalition victory would be the New Colombo Plan, with $100 million spent over five years on sending students to universities and work experience in the area that the Coalition is now calling the Asia-Pacific-Indian Ocean region.

The Coalition will refocus aid on this region, especially on Indonesia, PNG and the Pacific, and plans to increase the numbers of Pacific islander seasonal workers, who at present work especially in the fruit industry.