http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/02/phuket-it-where-was-dfat-and-qantas/ now with extra source Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:09:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/02/phuket-it-where-was-dfat-and-qantas/#comment-15915 David Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15915 I have thus far been quite impressed with Foreign Affairs Minister Smith. Last weekends closing of the<br />Australian Embassy in Bangkok while chaos ruled in Phuket was unforgivable and reflects poorly on Minister Smith's Department and in particular his staff in the Embassy from the Ambassador down the ranks. Surely someone had the common sense to realise, Australians would require assistance. Thats what we are told to do, if in trouble contact the Embassy. Similarly it was very poor judgement by Departmental Officials in Canberra not to check with the Ambassador. Someone higher up than the office clerk must have thought to check that the well being of Australians were being protected in the trouble areas. All in all a very poor performance and Stephen Smith should be demanding answers and providing some of his own. If he was out of the country, a phone call would have at least alerted him to issue some orders. Bad bad show I have thus far been quite impressed with Foreign Affairs Minister Smith. Last weekends closing of the
Australian Embassy in Bangkok while chaos ruled in Phuket was unforgivable and reflects poorly on Minister Smith’s Department and in particular his staff in the Embassy from the Ambassador down the ranks. Surely someone had the common sense to realise, Australians would require assistance. Thats what we are told to do, if in trouble contact the Embassy. Similarly it was very poor judgement by Departmental Officials in Canberra not to check with the Ambassador. Someone higher up than the office clerk must have thought to check that the well being of Australians were being protected in the trouble areas. All in all a very poor performance and Stephen Smith should be demanding answers and providing some of his own. If he was out of the country, a phone call would have at least alerted him to issue some orders. Bad bad show

]]> http://www.crikey.com.au/2008/09/02/phuket-it-where-was-dfat-and-qantas/#comment-15916 Nelson Thu, 01 Jan 1970 10:00:00 +0000 #comment-15916 I'd be interested in knowing if DFAT has ever really been effective in providing real-time support in situations of local unrest. Let's face we don't have the resources like US does to invest in multiple agencies that operate internationally and provide capability to whisk people out of harms way if required*. Perhaps I'm being unfair but what would could the local DFAT staff done to help they were probably as out of their depth as the tourists. <br />* admittedly US resources usually are more preoccupied with extraordinary rendition exercises or chasing Colombian drug barons so you're still screwed even if you're American.<br /> I’d be interested in knowing if DFAT has ever really been effective in providing real-time support in situations of local unrest. Let’s face we don’t have the resources like US does to invest in multiple agencies that operate internationally and provide capability to whisk people out of harms way if required*. Perhaps I’m being unfair but what would could the local DFAT staff done to help they were probably as out of their depth as the tourists.
* admittedly US resources usually are more preoccupied with extraordinary rendition exercises or chasing Colombian drug barons so you’re still screwed even if you’re American.

]]>