Complex sentence: Foreign Minister Stephen Smith was unavailable for an interview but the Department of Foreign Affairs issued an extensive statement welcoming the group home, but pointed out that before travelling, Australians needed to inform themselves about the laws of the countries they planned to visit.
Split into simpler sentences: Foreign Minister Stephen Smith was unavailable for an interview but the Department of Foreign Affairs issued an extensive statement. It welcomed the group home and pointed out that before travelling, Australians needed to inform themselves about the laws of the countries they planned to visit.