DFAT

• In late September, American rap legend MC Hammer made a spectacular intervention into Australia’s upcoming referendum to establish a Voice to Parliament for First Nations people.
• In a tweet, he urged Australians to “repair the breach”.
• Hammer’s tweet garnered some 1.1 million views, 1,300 retweets and 5,700 likes.

International attention on the vote

• On October 14, Australians will vote whether to amend the Constitution to establish a new advisory body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people called the Voice to Parliament.
• The new body would provide advice and make representations to parliament and the government on any issues relating to First Nations people.
• International attention on the Voice for Parliament referendum peaked on August 30 when Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the voting date.

Which countries are the most interested?

• New Zealand is also following the debate, with more than 2,000 mentions, as well as politicians in the Pacific.
• And while there are public reports on Australian attitudes to other countries, there is much less research on how people in other countries think about Australians.
• The lack of research on Australia’s reputation in other countries will make it difficult to assess the impact of the Voice result.
• What does seem likely, however, is that a “no” result will be weaponised by other countries against Australia.

Australia’s foreign policy

• The referendum result could also affect Australia’s ability to employ a foreign policy approach that seeks to “elevate” Indigenous people and issues.
• In 2021, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade released an Indigenous Diplomacy Agenda committed to reconciliation in Australia and supporting Indigenous rights globally.
• She argued a foreign service that properly represents the diversity of Australia has “a genuine competitive advantage”.
• As a result, a “yes” vote could provide Australian diplomats with “the momentum” to embed a First Nations foreign policy into their practice.

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• The Making Finance Work for Women Summit is one of the ways Women's World Banking is trying to close the gender gap in financial services.
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• The Making Finance Work for Women Summit is presented by Women's World Banking with support from Leading Sponsor, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Scaling Sponsor Ernst & Young (EY US).

• The Defence Strategic Review – the key planning document for defence policy – recommended more funding for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
• This is part of an increasing understanding in policy circles that defence needs diplomacy and development.
• After years of decrying the lack of investment in Australia’s diplomacy and development, it’s a positive to see some improvement.

What will the funding be used for?

• The increase in funding will be used for measures like “maintaining support for an effective foreign service” (code for keeping the department running) and increased diplomatic engagement with Southeast Asia.
• While leading the Lowy Institute, he worked with colleagues to chart Australia’s diplomatic deficit and disrepair.
• The review seems to have led directly to the budget investment in lifting DFAT’s strategic communications capability and improving communications networks.
• Consultations by the Development Intelligence Lab think tank identified development capability as a major hindrance to Australia’s development program.
• It will be used to invest in people, skills and expertise to ensure Australia’s development program can meet the needs of priorities of partner countries.

• Digital financial services can serve as an on-ramp for low-income women to adopt and use a large suite of formal financial products and services, expanding women's choices and their financial and economic resilience and empowerment.
• Low-income women represent a large, untapped market opportunity for digital financial services providers, particularly fintechs leveraging technology to close the gender gap in financial services.
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• The Grand Prize winner of the Fintech Innovation Challenge will be announced in Dubai, on February 16, 2023 following the pitch competition.