This is a list of diplomatic missions of Australia, excluding honorary consulates.[1] Australian diplomatic missions are posts representing the Commonwealth of Australia in foreign countries. They are mostly maintained of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, with some smaller posts being run by Austrade. There are currently over eighty Australian missions overseas.[2]
After federation in 1901, Australia's presence abroad was largely limited to state and Commonwealth agents and trade offices. Britain played a defining role in Australia's foreign policy, limiting its need for missions abroad. In 1939 there were only two External Affairs officers posted overseas: one in London (known as Australia House), and one in Washington attached to the British Embassy.
The Second World War necessitated increased co-operation with foreign countries independent of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office. By 1940, a base of four missions had been established in Washington, Ottawa, London and Tokyo, and as World War II progressed missions to Australia's wartime allies were established in Nouméa, Chongqing and Moscow.
Australian diplomatic missions today number at over eighty, although the number of Australian diplomats overseas has dramatically been reduced. Missions have been closed in Bern, Prague, Almaty, Damascus, Kupang, Addis Ababa, Lusaka, Algiers, Cape Town, Dar es Salaam, Bridgetown, Houston,[3] and Caracas.
Australia and Canada have an agreement that provides for consular services to each other's citizens at a number of locations around the world. At this time, there are 21 cities where Canadians can obtain consular services from Australian offices, and 19 locations where Canadian offices provide consular services to Australians. In an emergency, Australians can also seek assistance from British offices around the world if there is no resident Australian office.
Contents |
|
||||||||