The @dfat Secretary Frances Adamson and the @CDF_Aust are both speaking on "the nature and relationship of diplomacy and security" during the pandemic. Will live tweet. 1/

Adamson says covid-19 has catalysed a "re-think" of how the Department works 2/

Adamson runs through all the things @dfat has done during the pandemic, including sourcing ventilators and "vital supplies of personal protective equipment to keep Australians safe: 30 million gloves, 1 million pairs of goggles, and 200,000 surgical gowns" 3/

The Secretary also says staff have gone to "incredible lengths" to help Australians return home. She says "more than 363,000 Australians and Australian residents have returned home since March – with DFAT directly assisting more than 26,600 of them" 4/

Now spruiking @dfat work on the WHA coronavirus inquiry and AUSMIN. This is all fair enough, but hardly revelatory 5/

Adamson stresses the importance of diversity. She says 40 per cent of Australia's posts are now led by women – "our highest proportion ever" 6/

Now regional geopolitics. No surprises here. Adamson says "the Indo-Pacific region, so critical to our future, has become significantly more contested and polarised." Tensions have increased on several fronts 7/

Adamson stresses importance and value of diplomacy 8/

Hmmm. Is this a (very gentle) nudge to the government on @dfat funding? Adamson - "we need to continue to invest in our diplomatic capabilities and strengthen our capacity to effectively prosecute Australian priorities and interests overseas." 9/