AUSTRALIA MULLING HOW TO INCREASE AID IN AFGHANISTAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L CANBERRA 000834

SIPDIS
NOFORN

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/10/2019
TAGS: EAID PREL PGOV AF AS
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIA MULLING HOW TO INCREASE AID IN AFGHANISTAN

REF: Canberra 799

Classified by Pol/Econ Counselor Edgard Kagan for reasons 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
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1. (C/NF) Following his late August/early September visit to
Washington, Australia's Parliamentary Secretary for International
Development Assistance Bob McMullan told us the GOA is interested in
increasing its aid contribution in Afghanistan. Overcoming
logistical roadblocks to getting Australian aid workers to the field,
however, will be the key to making this happen. End summary.

Washington Trip
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2. (C/NF) During a September 10 meeting with Pol/Econcouns,
Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance Bob
McMullan praised his recent trip to Washington. McMullan highlighted
his meetings with Deputy Secretary Lew, USAID Acting Administrator
Fulgham and Assistant Secretary Campbell as particularly enlightening
and said he came away with an increased level of awareness and
concern for Australia's potential role in Afghanistan.


3. (C/NF) McMullan, who together with Acting AusAID Director General
Peter Baxter (reftel) oversees Australia's international development
agency, said that there is interest in increasing Australia's
development assistance in Afghanistan. The problem, McMullan
continued, is not financial, but rather logistical. AusAID lacks the
means to deploy its workers to the field and would be interested in
working with the United States to improve this capacity.
Pol/Econcouns expressed thanks for Australia's contribution to the
effort in Afghanistan and affirmed that we would be interested in
working with Australia to expand its assistance efforts in
Afghanistan.
Quadrennial Review
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4. (C/NF) Following up on a conversation with Deputy Secretary Lew,
McMullan said that Australia would be interested in observing or
participating in the U.S. Quadrennial Diplomacy and Development
Review before the end of the year in whatever capacity was deemed
appropriate. He noted as an aside that AusAID is considering
carrying out a review similar to the Quadrennial Review in Australia.
Noting his discussions with the Deputy Secretary and Acting
Administrator Fulgham, McMullan stressed Australia's desire to have a
formal dialogue between AusAID and USAID, saying he would like to
have Peter Baxter and his team meet with their U.S. counterparts by
the end of the year.

Comment
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5. (C/NF) This is another signal of strong Australian interest in
expanding assistance to Afghanistan -- we believe they are open to
our suggestions. While Foreign Minister Stephen Smith has
ministerial oversight of AusAID, we were left with the impression
that McMullan and Baxter have been left to run the agency with a
generous amount of latitude. McMullan has oversight responsibilities
and takes a strong interest in big picture issues, but defers to
Baxter on the day-to-day operations of AusAID.

CLUNE