Julie Bishop - Member for Curtin

Gillard downgrades foreign affairs and trade

Monday, 28 June 2010

Prime Minister Gillard has today effectively downgraded the portfolios of both foreign affairs and trade by merging the separate Cabinet responsibilities under one Minister, Julie Bishop Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs said today.

Ms Bishop said Foreign Minister Stephen Smith was already faced with the significant task of rebuilding relationships with many of Australia’s most important international partners and now has the added responsibility of trade.

"Mr Smith was personally involved in some of the decisions which have most offended other countries, in addition to the diplomatic blunders of Kevin Rudd, and he faces a considerable challenge in rebuilding trust between other nations and this Labor Government," Ms Bishop said.

"Prime Minister Gillard has signalled through this decision that repairing Australia’s international standing is not a priority for her government.”