The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC) Gifts and Benefits Reporting Guidelines came into effect from 18 October 2019. Under this guidance, The APSC requires agency heads to publish a register of gifts and benefits they accept on their departmental or agency website on a quarterly basis.
In the course of their duties as both the Secretary and Deputy Secretaries, the following gifts and/or benefits whose value exceeds the stipulated threshold of AUD $100.00 (excluding GST) were received.
DFAT updates the Gifts and Benefits Register quarterly by 31 January, 30 April, 31 July and 31 October.
For more information on DFATs Policy around Gifts and Benefits, please see the Ethics, Integrity and Professional Standards Policy Manual, or contact giftsandbenefits@dfat.gov.au.
| Date Received | Description | Received By | Received From | Retained for Personal/Official Use | Est value AUD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing | Chairman's Lounge | Secretary Deputy Secretaries Head, Office of the Pacific |
Qantas Airways LTD | Official Use | NA |
| Ongoing | The Club | Secretary Deputy Secretaries Head, Office of the Pacific |
Virgin Australia | Official Use | NA |
| 24/09/2019 | Two tickets to the Gillette T20 INTL Series | Secretary, Frances Adamson | Cricket Australia | Official Use | $100.00 |
| 18/03/2022 | 2 x Swiss army knives | Adrian Hudson, COO | Caroline Bichet-Anthamatten, Ambassador of Switzerland and on behalf of Embassy of Switzerland as wedding gift | Personal Use | $100.00 |
| 02/03/2022 | Silver vase | Deputy Secretary SGG, Katrina Cooper | HR Minister Pan Sorasak, Minister for Commerce Cambodia | Official Use | $250.00 |
| 13/04/2022 | Indonesian Red Cross Book and Memorabilia Item | Deputy Secretary SGG, Katrina Cooper | Jusuf Kalla, PMI Chairman & Former Vice President of Indonesia – Indonesia Red Cross | Official Use | Combined value $100.00 |
| 19/04/2022 | Thai Vogue Book & Thai Metal Box | Deputy Secretary SGG, Katrina Cooper | Thani Thongpakdi, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs Thailand | Official Use | Combined value $165.15 |
| 12/05/2022 | Framed Tongan Artwork | Secretary, Kathryn Campbell | Tongan Commissioner General and Ambassador to the UAE | Official Use | $200.00 |
| 22/11/2022 | Plaque of Singapore Merlion With Stamp | Deputy Secretary, Michelle Chan | H.E Mr Thangphare Savanphet, Lao Vice Minister | Official Use | $118.00 |
| 23/11/2022 | Gold Lotus Flower Framed with Plaque and Ha Bao Silk | Deputy Secretary, Michelle Chan | Chairman Phan Dinh Trac, Internal Affairs Commission Vietnam | Official Use | $178.95 |
| 13/12/2022 | Handmade Silk Scarf | Deputy Secretary, Michelle Chan | Mr Anne Crete Riise, Ambassador to the Embassy of Norway | Official Use | $100.00 |
| 17/07/2023 | Tickets to Bangarra Dance Performance | Deputy Secretary, Clare Walsh | Canberra Dance Theatre | Official Use | $200.00 |
| 15/08/2023 | Batik Scarf, Coffee and ASEAN Merchandise | Deputy Secretary, Michelle Chan | Indonesia Kemlu (Foreign Ministry) | Official Use | $150.00 |
| 17/08/2023 | Tan Cuong Natural Green Tea and Trung Nguyen Legend Coffee |
Deputy Secretary, Michelle Chan | Ambassador Thanh | Official Use | $146.17 |
| 25/10/2023 | Tickets to Matildas Quarter Final | Secretary, Jan Adams | Global Express | Official Use | $400.00 |
| 11/12/2023 | Lindt Chocolates | Deputy Secretary, Elly Lawson | High Commissioner, Bangladesh | Official Use | $125.00 |
| 08/04/2024 | Perspex box containing mixed metal silver boats. | Deputy Secretary, Elly Lawson | Head of Kemlu's internal thinktank the Foreign Policy Strategy Agency | Official Use | $200.00 |
| 11/06/2024 | Tea Set | Deputy Secretary, Elly Lawson | Chinese Premier | Official Use | $140.00 |
| 28/06/2024 | Collectable coins, Scarf | Deputy Secretary, Michelle Chan | Helder Lopes, Timor Leste | Official Use | Combined value $100.00 |
| 09/07/2024 | Tea Set | Deputy Secretary, Elly Lawson | Executive Assistant to the Ambassador | Official Use | $150.00 |
| 28/11/2024 | Two tickets to the Ryman Healthcare Spring Gala: Beethoven's Ninth performance by Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. | Secretary, Jan Adams | Melbourne Symphony Orchestra | Official Use | $192 |
| 04/12/2024 | Consumables hamper | Deputy Secretary, Michelle Chan | Ambassador of Vietnam | Official Use | $105.00 |
| 22/01/2025 | Tea and a desk calendar | Secretary, Jan Adams | Researcher for Political Affairs, South Korea | Official Use | $177.00 |
| 28/02/2025 | Thai Silk Scarf | Deputy Secretary SSG, Michelle Chan | Department of International Economic Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Thailand | Official Use | $218.00 |
| 15/04/2025 | Wajima-Nuri Chopsticks (lacquer chopsticks) | Secretary, Jan Adams | Director, Japan Pavilion at the Osaka World Expo 2025 | Official Use | $150.00 |
| 30/04/2025 | Cotton/Bamboo scarf | Deputy Secretary SSG, Michelle Chan | Former Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs | Official Use | $117.00 |