Australia’s globetrotting First Nations ambassador had his plum well-paid taxpayer-funded gig extended by six months as voters prepare for a federal election.
Controversial First Nations People ambassador Justin Mohamed will reportedly earn $189,787 for ‘strategic planning consultation services’ during the six-month term slated to commence next month.
The revelations came the same day Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he would be sending Australian voters to the polls on May 3.
The staggering pay bump for the extended six-month period will bring Mr Mohameds’ earnings to $948,937 since the Albanese government created the one-of-a-kind role.
Mr Mohamed, a father of five, started the role in March 2023. His $759,000 two-year contract was due to expire next month but the shock extension has kyboshed that.
His job was originally to ‘engage regional partners on the Voice, Treaty, Truth process’, but that part of the position became irrelevant when Australia voted No to the Voice referendum in October.
Mr Mohamed’s position has since expanded to assist in curbing China‘s growing power in the Pacific by building relationships with countries in the region.
The ambassador is also responsible for providing ‘strategic guidance on the development and implementation of a First Nations approach to foreign policy.’
First Nations ambassador Justin Mohamed is seen on holiday with wife Dr Janine Mohamed
Mr Mohamed had his plum role extended for a further six months. it was announced this week
Part of the job title allowed Mr Mohamed to go on a globe-trotting travel jaunt which has so far cost taxpayers almost $250,000.
Last month, Daily Mail Australia reported Mr Mohamed spent an average of $12,800 per month in the opening half of this financial year.
His spending was detailed in documents from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) obtained under freedom of information laws.
He travelled to New York, Hawaii, San Francisco, Dubai, Paris, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea. A two-week trip to Kansas City and Washington DC cost taxpayers $75,022 alone.
Opposition leader Peter Dutton has pledged to axe the role if he wins the election.
In September, Mr Dutton said Australians ‘haven’t got enough money in their own budget, but they’ve got the prime minister flying this guy around the world business class doing I don’t know what’.
‘If it is the case that we win the next election, that position will be abolished on day one, and that money will be spent to help Australians who are struggling at the moment to keep a roof over their head, or to pay their electricity bill,’ he said.
‘It’ll be a very different way of governing if we win the next election. But at the moment, the waste, I think, is just frustrating and annoying people.’
Mr Mohamed (right) travelled to New York, Hawaii, San Francisco, Dubai, Paris, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea
Opposition Indigenous Australians spokeswoman Jacinta Nampijinpa Price previously told Daily Mail Australia there was a stark contrast between Mr Mohamed’s travel budget and the experiences of most Indigenous people.
‘There is a seismic gap between the kinds of money being spent on travel by the First Nations Ambassador and the lives of our most marginalised Australians,’ she said.
‘If these taxpayer funded trips are truly warranted, then Anthony Albanese needs to be clear about the outcomes being achieved and how the lives of our marginalised are being improved.
‘As a result of questioning the government in the course of Estimates earlier this year, I continue to have doubts as to the practical benefit made by the Ambassador to the lives of Indigenous Australians.’
Warren Mundine, the former National President of the Australian Labor Party, told Daily Mail Australia the function of Mr Mohamed’s role was unclear and called for more ‘practical’ roles to help local Indigenous businesses.
‘I’m a bit confused about what the position is, what does it do?’ he said.
Mr Mohamed was appointed to the role in March 2023
‘Originally he was supposed to be going around about the Voice, but that would have sent a clear message that the Australian people don’t need such a position.
‘We need practical things happening in Australia, and to deal with business development that could help Indigenous businesses get support to go international, not someone who travels around going to meetings.’
Minister for Foreign Affairs Penny Wong said Mr Mohamed’s work had reinforced Australia’s influence in the Pacific where he had played an important role in shaping government policy.
‘We have also facilitated First Nations trade missions to the United States and other key partners to boost exports and open new investment channels, all of which helps make the Australian economy stronger, more resilient to shocks and more competitive,’ she said.
‘There are some who seek to diminish the value of these engagements and our approach to the region. I invite them to consider whether their domestic political point scoring is more important than Australia doing everything we can to strengthen our ties across our increasingly contested region.’
Daily Mail Australia has contacted Mr Mohamed for comment.
