Appendix 1 Ministerial responsibilities

Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Julie Bishop MP

Ms Bishop had overall responsibility for the Foreign Affairs and Trade portfolio, including administration of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Minister was responsible for all non-trade international political, multilateral and legal issues (including the treaty-making process), and development assistance. In June 2014, she launched Australia’s new aid policy framework to drive economic growth and poverty reduction in developing countries, supported by rigorous performance benchmarks that improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the aid program.

Ms Bishop established the innovationXchange and the International Reference Group on innovation and launched the department’s Ideas Challenge. These initiatives work to produce innovative solutions to long-standing foreign policy and development challenges.

The Minister also had responsibility for consular and passport functions and management of the Commonwealth’s overseas estate. The Australian Government opened an embassy in Ukraine, and announced plans to establish a range of new diplomatic posts in the single largest expansion of Australia’s diplomatic network in 40 years.

In addition, Ms Bishop had responsibility for all human rights, arms control and disarmament issues, peacekeeping, and the non-trade related aspects of the UN system. The Minister represented Australia in the UN Security Council and led international action on counter-terrorism, the humanitarian situation in Syria and the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17.

Ms Bishop had primary carriage of non-trade related public diplomacy activities and questions of protocol. The New Colombo Plan, a flagship foreign policy initiative of the Australian Government, supported Australian undergraduate students to live, study and work in the Indo–Pacific region. The New Colombo Plan had significant public diplomacy benefits and built new friendships and professional networks between young Australians and people in the region.

The Minister shared responsibility for international security with the Minister for Defence and responsibility for counter-terrorism issues with the Attorney-General. Ms Bishop used her legislative authority to prevent Australians from travelling overseas to fight with terrorist organisations like Daesh.

Ms Bishop also supported the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection to implement Operation Sovereign Borders and the Regional Deterrence Framework.

The Minister also had responsibility for the administration and management of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.

Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon. Andrew Robb AO, MP

Mr Robb had responsibility for pursuing Australia’s trade and investment interests around the world, as well as promoting the Government’s tourism policies and agencies, as the Minister responsible for tourism.

The Minister, along with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, had responsibility for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, as well as the Australian Trade Commission (Austrade), the Export Finance and Insurance Corporation and Tourism Australia.

Mr Robb has concluded landmark Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with our top three export markets—Korea, Japan and China—which account for more than 55 per cent of Australia’s total goods and services exports.

The Korea–Australia Free Trade Agreement entered into force in late 2014, followed by the Japan–Australia Economic Partnership Agreement in early 2015. The China–Australia Free Trade Agreement was signed in Canberra in June 2015 and is expected to enter into force by the end of 2015.

The Minister also oversaw the Government’s national FTA promotional activities for businesses, including seminars and the development of an innovative online trade dashboard.

Mr Robb progressed trade negotiations with India after Prime Ministers Abbott and Modi agreed to work towards concluding a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement in 2015.

The Minister advanced Australia’s position in the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement negotiations, which would be the world’s biggest regional trade deal. Mr Robb also oversaw negotiations for a Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership agreement. He continued to work to promote deeper trade, investment and business links with Indonesia, the Gulf States, the European Union and Pacific Island countries.

Mr Robb oversaw Australia’s accession to the Trade Facilitation Agreement, launched Australia’s bid to join the Government Procurement Agreement and helped initiate Environmental Goods negotiations, all World Trade Organization initiatives.

He progressed work with co-chairs the United States and the European Union to conclude the Trade in Services Agreement, and continued to work actively to promote Australia’s interests in APEC and the OECD.

As Australia’s first Minister for Investment, Mr Robb has conducted 66 business roundtables in 26 countries in less than two years, actively promoting Australia as a secure destination for global investors.

The Minister was also tasked by the Prime Minister to oversee the finalisation of the Government’s White Paper on developing Northern Australia, which outlined measures to support sustainable growth in the north, including the attraction and facilitation of large-scale investment.

Mr Robb also oversaw reforms to the Significant Investor Visa and the introduction of a Premium Investor Visa to further promote investment, innovation and commercialisation of Australian ideas, research and development.

In tourism, Mr Robb presided over the allocation of $43 million in funding to the states and territories under the Tourism Demand Driver Infrastructure program and supported a landmark air services agreement with China that will see capacity triple by the end of 2016.

Other tourism initiatives include extending multiple-entry tourist and business visas for Chinese visitors, the extension of online visa processing trials, freezing the Passenger Movement Charge for this term of office and extending streamlined SmartGate traveller processing trials.

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Investment, the Hon. Steven Ciobo MP

Mr Ciobo was appointed to his role on 23 December 2014. Since that time he has promoted Australian public and economic diplomacy interests overseas, deepened linkages between business communities and expanded opportunities for industry cooperation.

He assisted the Minister for Foreign Affairs in implementing and promoting the New Colombo Plan, enabling Australian students to study and work in over 38 host locations across the Indo–Pacific. He also supported Ms Bishop in taking Australia’s relationship with Fiji into a new era of partnership and prosperity, including signing a memorandum of understanding to mark Fiji’s inclusion in the Seasonal Worker Program.

Mr Ciobo supported the Minister for Trade and Investment with FTA advocacy in Australia and promoted the implementation of FTAs overseas, including through leadership of targeted sectoral business delegations of industry leaders. He also worked to promote within Australia the opportunities arising for Australian businesses from recently concluded FTAs with Japan, Korea and China.

Mr Ciobo also boosted economic ties with key trading partners, including the United States, and supported the Minister for Trade and Investment in advancing new FTAs including on the PACER Plus agreement in particular.

Former Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon. Dr Brett Mason

Dr Mason served as Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs until 23 December 2014. Dr Mason supported the Minister for Foreign Affairs in advancing Australia’s national interest with a focus on the security and prosperity of Australians and the promotion of prosperity, reduction of poverty and enhancement of stability in our region, the Indo–Pacific.

Dr Mason was a strong advocate for Australia’s elevated engagement with Pacific countries. As part of his responsibilities, he worked closely with Pacific countries to promote integration and cooperation in the pursuit of economic growth, sustainable development, governance and security.

Dr Mason assisted the Minister for Foreign Affairs on the Australian aid program and the implementation of the New Colombo Plan. He also assisted in overseeing the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.