PM Transcripts

I0
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA 19 MAY-1988
The Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, Dr Stuart Harris, has informed Mr Hayden and Mr Duffy
that he intends in the near future to take up a senior
academic position at the Australian National University.
The Government and particularly Mr Hayden and I
appreciates the service Dr Harris has provided as head of
one of the central policy departments of Government.
He has made an important personal contribution as Secretary
in helping define the nature and extent of Australia's
international interests and in Improving the Government's
pursuit of those interests. Under Mr Hayden" s direction, he
has also led the Department in achieving the amalgamation of
the former Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the
Australian Overseas Information Service. The Government's
objective of a more integrated and better focussed approach
towards our international interests is already being
acheived as a result.
Among Dr Harris' achievements was the completion in 1986 of
a fundamental Review of Australia's Overseas Representation.
His careful analysis of Australia's interests in the
changing internatidinal environment and the optimum
deployment of Government resources to service those
interests has been of great value.
Dr Harris has indicated that he wishes to relinquish the
Secretaryship of Foreign Affairs and Trade at the end of the
first week in July. The Government has asked him to report
further on Auttralia's overseas representation between then
and September-N This report will update the conclusions and
recommendations of the earlier review in the light of
developments since its completion and, in particular, since
the amalgamation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade. The report will also, in the light of these and any
other factors, report on the case for a single overseas
service.
The Government wishes Dr Harris well in his future academic
career. An announcement about his successor will be made
after the matter has been fully considered by the
Government. 0 0 G 5 9