Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I take the member for Fraser to the DFAT portfolio budget statements where, on page 24, under annual departmental expenses there is an item entitled ‘Foreign Affairs and Trade Operations.’ The parliamentary secretary will note that there is a reduction in expenses, from $562,818 in the 2009-10 budget to $499,183 in the 2010-11 budget, which will go down to $491,363 in the 2011-12 budget. Could the member explain which areas will be affected by this budget cut over the next three years, which programs are likely to be cut and what analysis has been undertaken on the impact of such budget cuts on the operation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade?

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