# Former Australian diplomat says budget 'preparing for very difficult times ahead'

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/radio-national-breakfast-572135/former-australian-diplomat-says-budget-preparing-for-very-difficult-times-ahead
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/radio-national-breakfast-572135/former-australian-diplomat-says-budget-preparing-for-very-difficult-times-ahead.md
Podcast: [Radio National Breakfast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/radio-national-breakfast-572135)
Published: 2026-05-13T22:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/former-australian-diplomat-budget-geopolitics/106676974
Audio file: https://mediacore-live-production.akamaized.net/audio/02/kg/Z/r7.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/radio-national-breakfast-572135/episodes/former-australian-diplomat-says-budget-preparing-for-very-difficult-times-ahead
Duration seconds: 417

## Resource

Back to the federal budget now, and what it has to say about the government's priorities on the global stage. Foreign aid is being maintained – but with some cuts to multilateral organisations like the United Nations. Meanwhile the Government announced last month that an extra 53-billion dollars will go towards Australia's defence capabilities over the next decade, with defence spending climbing to 3% of GDP by 2033 - using NATO measurements. So, what are the geopolitical ramifications? GUEST: Jane Hardy, former Australian diplomat with more than 30 years’ experience in the foreign service PRODUCER: Pip Cook

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