Australia has been doing foreign affairs "on the cheap" for decades, says departing ambassador to the US Kim Beazley - and his boss agrees.
Mr Beazley, who is due to leave his post at year's end, says resources in Washington have been pared back over the years despite deepening ties between the two nations.
"It's not good. I would think we would be well served by a more extensive department," he told The Australian on Monday.
Foreign Minister Julie Bishop conceded successive federal governments had not provided the department and diplomats with the kind of resources needed to "fully engage and pursue our needs internationally".
"I'm committed to ensuring that, while we have significant budgetary constraints, we'll certainly give priority to doing as much as we can innovatively and creatively so that our interests are represented on the world stage," she told reporters in Canberra on Monday.
"We had to cut the aid budget but we've managed to be much more creative and innovative in the way we deliver aid and are getting better results as an outcome."
Ms Bishop said the coalition had announced the opening of seven new overseas posts in its first two years of government.
Meanwhile, Mr Beazley on Monday is expected to be named the next president of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, a position he will take up when he returns to Australia.
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