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The ambassador is no less than a
representative of a country’s head of state
or president to another country. Usually, embassies of different nations are located
at the capital city of a country.
However, in case a
country’s representation in another is not having an
address in a capital city, the place is no longer
called an embassy but as consulate, which is
spearheaded by a consulate-general. Australia
embassy on the United States is of course located at
Washington DC. However, there are consulates at
Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu,
Chicago and New York. On the other hand, diplomatic
missions between Commonwealth nations are called
High Commissions.
Australia has High Commissions in
Valetta, Malta; London, United Kingdom; Ottawa,
Canada and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Simply put,
Australia embassies, consulates and High Commissions
are diplomatic missions that represent Commonwealth
of Australia in offshore nations.
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Such offices are basically
maintained by the Australia Department of Foreign
Affairs and Trade.
As mentioned, there are more than
80 diplomatic missions overseas. In the recent
years, Australia has pulled out missions in Prague,
Cape Town, Houston, Caracas, Bridgetown and
Damascus.
To further provide and extend needed
services to Australian citizens globally, the
country has entered into an agreement with the
Canadian government in providing consular services
to each country’s citizens offshore.
This way,
Canadians could secure and get consular services
from any of 21 Australian consulate offices
worldwide. In turn, Australians could seek
assistance from any 19 Canadian consulates worldwide
Australia also has an almost similar agreement with the
United Kingdom’s consular offices.
How were Australian
embassies established? In
1939, the country had two
officers for external
affairs posted in London (in
an office now called the
Australia House) and in
Washington (where the office
was attached to Britain’s
own embassy).
World War II prompted
embassies to boost
cooperation with other
countries not covered by the
British Foreign and
Commonwealth Office. In
1940, two offices were
added, this time in Tokyo,
Japan and in Ottawa, Canada.
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Amid the
world war, Australian
diplomatic missions were
founded in Moscow, Chongqing
and Noumea. From there, Australian
embassies further grew and now cover numerous countries,
cities and other independent territories worldwide. |
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