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Australia lashed on dwindling diplomatic corps
The critical study of the nation's diplomatic missions by the Lowy Institute foreign policy think-tank said Canberra put too much emphasis on Europe despite power shifting to Asia.
It questioned the government's push for a seat on the United Nations Security Council, saying it would further stretch already thinly-spread resources to cover issues "only tangentially related to Australia’s interests".
The respected Institute said Australia had the smallest consular network of the G20 nations and only nine of the 34 OECD countries had fewer missions, "most of whom enjoy more stable geopolitical surrounds" or the benefits of belonging to a regional bloc.
"Shifting power balances in Asia are creating uncertainty about the future of the existing regional order and the open economic system on which Australia’s security, prosperity and political autonomy have rested for decades," the institute warned.
"Political instability in Papua New Guinea, the continuing stand-off with the military dictatorship in Fiji and a growing Chinese economic and aid presence have underlined the continuing volatility of our immediate neighbourhood," it added.
The study called for Australia to open 20 new missions in the next decade and strengthen links with Brazil, India, China and emerging powers including Turkey, South Korea, Mexico, Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates.
Despite being the world's 13th largest economy, Australia had just 95 diplomatic missions globally, less than the OECD average of 133 and lower than much smaller countries including Finland, Sweden and Norway.
Just 10 percent of its staff had high proficiency in an Asian language.
Already under-resourced, the study said the department of foreign affairs had been further stretched by Canberra's campaign for a temporary Security Council seat in 2013-14 and would face greater demands if it succeeds.
