“Australia’s Consulate-General in Phuket was opened in June 2016 as part of the largest expansion of our diplomatic network in 40 years,” Ms Bishop explained
A total of 900,000 Australians visit Thailand each year, with approximately a third of those travelling to Phuket, Ms Bishop noted.
“The Government is committed to improving access to consular and passport services in areas popular with Australian travellers,” she said.
“Australia and Thailand have a strong relationship based on shared strategic and economic interests. We work closely together in regional and international forums, including the East Asia Summit, APEC and the United Nations, and on a range of important issues including defence, law enforcement, counter-terrorism, and combatting people smuggling and human trafficking. Thailand is our eighth largest trading partner with two-way trade worth $20.7 billion (B551.4 billion) in 2015,” Ms Bishop said.
Mr Ferguson is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and most recently was Assistant Director, Staffing Operations Section. He has previously served overseas in Shanghai, Brasilia and New Delhi. Mr Ferguson holds a Bachelor of Business from Queensland University of Technology.
“I would like to thank Australia’s outgoing Honorary Consul in Phuket, Ms Michelle Hawryluk, for her excellent contribution to providing consular services for Australians in Phuket,” Ms Bishop added.
The Consulate-General in Phuket opened June 14. (See story here.)
The Australian Consulate-General in Phuket is located at:
6th Floor CCM Complex, 77/77 Chalermprakiat Rama 9 Road (the bypass road), Muang Phuket 83000 Thailand (See map below.)
Phone: +66 (0) 76 317 700 Fax: +66 (0) 76 317 743
Email: consular.phuket@dfat.gov.au
Website: http://phuket.consulate.gov.au
Hours of operation: 8.30am – 4.30pm Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Refer to the Consulate-General website for further details on services.