Australia has introduced the appointment of the nation’s subsequent Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism.
“At the moment I announce the appointment of Mr. Richard Feakes as Australia’s subsequent Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism,” Australian Overseas Minister Penny Wong mentioned in an announcement on Could. 25.
“Australia’s Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism is chargeable for main our worldwide engagement on counter-terrorism, together with at worldwide fora and works intently with home companies on counter-terrorism points.
“Terrorism is a world problem, and dealing intently with our worldwide companions within the area and past is vital to safeguarding Australia, our folks and our pursuits from the harms of terrorism and violent extremism.
The function of the Workplace of the Ambassador for Counter-Terrorism contains constructing and sustaining worldwide hyperlinks by main negotiations on counter-terrorism cooperation and holding common consultations with associate nations, coordinating efforts to make sure Australia’s efficient implementation of its obligations beneath United Nations counter-terrorism devices, and managing the itemizing of people and organisations beneath Australia’s terrorist asset freezing regime, and so on., in keeping with the web site of Division of Overseas Affairs and Commerce.
The Australian Authorities maintains details about teams which can be proscribed as terrorist organisations beneath the Australian Felony Code. If a gaggle is listed as a “terrorist organisation” it’s an offence to:
- direct the actions of the organisation
- recruit individuals to the organisation
- obtain coaching from or present coaching to the organisation
- obtain funds from or make out there funds to the organisation
- present help or sources to the organisation
Former Ambassador to Afghanistan
Feakes will even sit on the Commonwealth Joint Counter-Terrorism Board and the Australia-New Zealand Counter-Terrorism Committee. The son of a diplomat, Feakes was ‘launched to diplomacy at a younger age’. He lived along with his household in France, Cambodia, Malaysia, and India.
“Mr Feakes is a profession diplomat with intensive counter‑terrorism expertise. He most lately served as Commonwealth Deputy Counter-Terrorism Coordinator throughout the Division of House Affairs. His earlier diplomatic roles embody Australian Ambassador to Afghanistan and postings to Iraq and Papua New Guinea,” Wong mentioned.
Feakes beforehand held strategic and nationwide safety positions in Canberra, together with as Assistant Secretary for Afghanistan and Pakistan within the Division of Overseas Affairs and Commerce and as Senior Adviser for Asia Pacific points throughout the Prime Minister’s Division.
“I used to be at all times taken with doing that type of work, in visiting different nations, in studying about different cultures,” Feames mentioned in a case research of 2017 Overseas Coverage White Paper.
Throughout his time in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, in 2016-2017, Feames tried to get out of his workplace daily regardless of the potential safety challenges.
“There is no such thing as a actual typical day,” he mentioned. “The easiest way to know the complexity of Afghanistan is to talk to as many individuals as attainable.”
The previous ambassador was additionally captivated with preserving Australians secure.
“I believe Australia and Australians, we take critically our duty to help a rustic like Afghanistan––and plenty of different nations as properly––for safety, and to construct stability and supply livelihoods,” he mentioned then.
“What occurs in a spot like Afghanistan can have direct implications for Australians at dwelling and elsewhere… Once in a while, Australians want our help abroad for consular help.”
Requested about one of the best day he had within the nation, Feames recalled him travelling for the primary time to Tarin Kot in Uruzgan Province, the place the Taliban was lively.
“It was a day that was…stuffed for me with some emotion, eager about the sacrifice and dedication and bravado of Australian Defence Drive personnel, in order that was without delay an excellent day, however on the identical time, a moderately emotional and poignant day,” he mentioned.
Originally posted 2023-05-26 10:51:51.