Bob McMullan (Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance) Share this | Hansard source

The average staffing level for DFAT is projected to increase during the course of 2010-11—an increase of 1.6 per cent or 59. Some of that, but less than half, is specifically relating to things like passports and special one-offs with regard to Afghanistan and Baghdad—measures that are announced in the budget—but there is also a staff increase. There is no special increase in funding for consular, no special reduction. We expect to continue to provide the high-quality service to Australians that we have.

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