Greg Moriarty will assume the role of Australia’s Ambassador to the US when he replaces Kevin Rudd from 1 April. Photo: ADF.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Australia’s next Ambassador to the United States will be Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty.
Mr Moriarty will assume the role of ambassador from 1 April, taking over from former Australian PM and Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, who it was announced on 13 January would step down a year earlier than planned.
The Defence Secretary was selected ahead of other contenders who reportedly included former Labor frontbenchers Joel Fitzgibbon, Stephen Conroy and Greg Combet.
Mr Albanese made the announcement on ABC’s Insiders television program on Sunday morning, describing Mr Moriarty as “an outstanding Australian public servant”.
“He served as an ambassador to Iran and to Indonesia. He’s played a role in Papua New Guinea as well,” Mr Albanese said.
“He has served both Labor and Coalition governments and he’s been Secretary of the Department of Defence, and of course the AUKUS relationship is central to our relationship with the United States. And he’s in a very strong position to be on top of all of that detail.”
The 61-year-old Mr Moriarty took over as Defence Secretary in September 2017. Before that, he was briefly chief of staff to prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, and was Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator from May 2015 to April 2017.
He was also Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia from August 2010 to December 2014, and Ambassador to Iran from 2005 to 2008. In 1990-91, he served in the headquarters of the United States Central Command in the Persian Gulf during the Desert Shield and Desert Storm operations.
Mr Albanese told Insiders that Mr Moriarty wasn’t necessarily selected because of his lack of social media presence and perception as being a ‘’clean skin’’.
“I know Mr Moriarty very well, and I’ve been impressed by the dignified way in which he handles himself, by his connections in the United States as well,” he said.
In a separate joint statement with Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles, Mr Albanese said Mr Moriarty was “uniquely experienced to take forward the Australia-US alliance”.
“He has unsurpassed credentials across Australia’s international policy from his senior roles in the Australian Public Service,” Mr Albanese said.
“At the Department of Defence, Mr Moriarty has overseen an historic increase in the Defence budget under the Albanese Government, as well as the implementation of the National Defence Strategy in response to the Defence Strategic Review.
“He has also led the department working with counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom in the development and implementation of AUKUS.”
The Federal Opposition welcomed the appointment, with Liberal leader Sussan Ley and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs Michaelia Cash saying in a joint statement that “Mr Moriarty has a proven track record of advancing Australia’s national interest under both Labor and Liberal governments.
“He has served Australia in a distinguished career spanning diplomatic appointments and key roles in Australia’s defence and intelligence communities.
“In this period of global uncertainty, a strong alliance with the United States of America is more important than ever.
“Mr Moriarty is a safe pair of hands to advance Australia’s interest, build this relationship and ensure AUKUS reaches its full potential.”
Ambassador Rudd said he was “delighted” by the appointment.
“Greg has worked on alliance relations with the US for decades,” Mr Rudd said in a statement.
“He is deeply familiar with AUKUS and will be a critical leader in driving AUKUS to implementation. He is also an experienced diplomat.
“I look forward to handing over the reins to him here in DC at the end of March.”
Original Article published by Andrew McLaughlin on PS News.
