Today the 2023-24 Consular State of Play data was released, which shows the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) provided consular assistance and crisis support to more than 15,000 cases over 12 months, including more than 6,000 Australians and their family members impacted by conflict in the Middle East, Ukraine, Sudan as well as civil unrest in New Caledonia.
The Consular State of Play is a snapshot of the consular assistance and crisis support DFAT provides to Australians overseas. In 2023-24 this included DFAT’s Emergency Centre responding to more than 53,000 calls for assistance, on average 145 calls per day from July 2023 through to 30 June 2024.
In 2023-24 more than 2.5 million passports were issued, including over 8,000 emergency passports to Australians overseas.
As the number of Australians travelling overseas has increased, so has the assistance the Australian Government has provided. Compared to 2022-23, there was a 7% increase in non-crisis consular cases.
Compared to 2022-23, the new data shows a:
· 31% increase in lost passports, with 2,678 cases.
· 23% increase in stolen passports, with 1,945 cases.
· 21% increase in illness and hospitalisation, with 1,356 cases.
· 3% increase in death cases, with 1,919 cases.
· 23% increase in drug-related arrests, with 117 cases.
· 24% increase in whereabouts cases, with 328 cases.
· 26% increase in theft cases, with 198 cases.
· 10% decrease in welfare and other serious matter cases, with 2,840 cases.
Every day, DFAT consular staff around the world and in the 24/7 Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra work tirelessly to provide consular assistance to Australians overseas, however in some circumstances the support DFAT can provide may be limited.
Australians travelling overseas can help manage their own safety and security by visiting Smartraveller.gov.au, reading and acting on the travel advice, and subscribing to free updates to stay informed while they’re away. The full Consular State of Play is available on the Smartraveller website.
