DFAT plan to secure Australia’s diplomatic network ‘partly effective’

An audit of DFAT’s $394.3 million Security Enhancement Program (SEP) has determined that Commonwealth procurement rules were only “partly complied with” and that value for money was “partly achieved”.

Managing Australia’s overseas network is one of six key activity areas for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the SEP aims to ensure the government’s duty of care for staff based at 115 posts across 86 countries.

The audit office examined government spending between 2018 and 2021, intended to provide a safe and secure environment for staff and visitors to Australia’s overseas missions.