VZCZCXRO2902
PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW RUEHSL
DE RUEHBY #0834 2532326
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 102326Z SEP 09
FM AMEMBASSY CANBERRA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2023
INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHBN/AMCONSUL MELBOURNE PRIORITY 6652
RUEHDN/AMCONSUL SYDNEY PRIORITY 4906
RUEHPT/AMCONSUL PERTH PRIORITY 4917

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 
------- 
 
¶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 
--------------- 
 
¶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 
------------------ 
 
¶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 
------- 
 
¶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