Job cuts notice at Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade 'insensitive' April Fool's Day prank

A fake announcement reporting job losses at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Dfat) has been rebuked by the firm as ‘ill-judged’.

Staff in the Australian Passport Office (APO) were informed on 1 April that their jobs were in jeopardy and that all positions would be relocating from Canberra to Melbourne.

The message was posted on big screens in the Dfat’s Canberra office for up to five hours, according to Fairfax Media.