List of high commissioners of Australia to Kiribati explained

Post:High Commissioner of Australia to Kiribati
Insignia:Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Department:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Incumbent:David Yardley
Residence:Tarawa
Nominator:Prime Minister of Australia
Style:His Excellency
Appointer:Governor General of Australia
Reports To:Minister for Foreign Affairs
Formation:6 August 1982
Inaugural:John Mahoney
Website:Australian High Commission, Kiribati

The high commissioner of Australia to Kiribati is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the High Commission of the Commonwealth of Australia to Kiribati, located in Tarawa. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and is currently held by David Yardley. As fellow members of the Commonwealth of Nations, diplomatic relations between Australia and Kiribati are between high commissioners rather than ambassadors. The High Commission is one of four diplomatic missions in Kiribati, alongside New Zealand, Taiwan and Cuba. The High Commission supports and manages Australia's extensive Official Development Assistance program to Kiribati, which constitutes 31% of all ODA to the country (15% of Kiribati's GDP).[1]

Posting history

Australia formally recognised Kiribati on its independence from the United Kingdom in 1979, but diplomatic contacts were much earlier with the high commissioner in Nauru dual-accredited as Commissioner to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1972–1976) and the Gilbert Islands (1976–1979), and then non-resident accredited high commissioner to Kiribati from 1979. In 1981, The Australian Government announced that it would open a resident High Commission in Kiribati in recognition of "the importance which Australia attached to relations with not only Kiribati but to its regional neighbours in the South Pacific."[2]

On 7 November 2003, Kiribati established diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan), but it was alleged later on that the Australian high commissioner, Jurek Juszczyk, had urged President Anote Tong not to recognise Taiwan, as this would inevitably sever relations with China. Although Kiribati did not sever ties with the PRC, Beijing suspended ties on 29 November after failed attempts to lobby President Tong to change his mind.[3]

High commissioners

Officeholder Residency Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center Leslie Sellars (Commissioner)Yaren, Naurualign=right [4]
align=center (Commissioner)align=right [5]
align=center (Commissioner) align=right [6] [7]
align=center Oliver Cordellalign=right [8]
align=center John MahoneyTarawaalign=right [9]
align=center William Rowealign=right [10] [11]
align=center Peter Bassettalign=right [12] [13]
align=center Laurie Maheralign=right [14]
align=center Stewart Brooksalign=right [15] [16]
align=center Phillip Allarsalign=right [17]
align=center Colin Hillalign=right [18] [19]
align=center Jurek Juszczykalign=right [20] [21]
align=center align=right [22] [23]
align=center Brett Aldamalign=right [24] [25] [26]
align=center George Fraseralign=right [27]
align=center Bruce Cowledalign=right [28]
align=center David YardleyIncumbentalign=right [29] [30]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Australia's Relationship with Developing Countries - Kiribati. DFAT. 8 May 2016.
  2. HIGH COMMISSION IN KIRIBATI. Tony. Street. Tony Street. Australian Government. 16 August 1981.
  3. Book: Atkinson. Joel. Australia and Taiwan: Bilateral Relations, China, the United States, and the South Pacific. 2013. BRILL. Leiden. 174.
  4. Australian Representation—Nauru . Current Notes on International Affairs . November 1972 . 43 . 11 . 585 . 5 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  5. New Man in Nauru . Pacific Islands Monthly . February 1975 . 46 . 2 . 13 . 5 November 2022.
  6. Diplomatic Appointments . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . January 1977 . 48 . 1 . 51 . 5 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  7. Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . May 1977 . 48 . 5 . 276 . 5 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  8. Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . July 1979 . 50 . 7 . 452 . 5 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  9. DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT: KIRIBATI. Tony. Street. Tony Street. Australian Government. 5 August 1982.
  10. DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT: KIRIBATI. Bill. Hayden. Bill Hayden. Australian Government. 24 March 1985.
  11. News: Diplomatic appointments. 25 March 1985. 3. The Canberra Times.
  12. DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT: KIRIBATI. Bill. Hayden. Bill Hayden. Australian Government. 24 August 1987.
  13. News: Hayden names 7 envoys. 25 August 1987. 3. The Canberra Times.
  14. News: Blewett . Neal . Diplomatic appointment- Kiribati . 11 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 29 August 1990 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  15. News: New diplomatic assignments. 14 December 1993. The Canberra Times. 12.
  16. News: Evans . Gareth . Diplomatic appointment: Kiribati . 11 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 13 December 1993 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  17. Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Kiribati. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212031615/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1996/fa146.html. 12 February 2014. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. 17 December 1996. Australian Government.
  18. Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Kiribati. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 20 October 1999. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212023939/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1999/fa115_99.html. 12 February 2014.
  19. News: Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Australia a good friend of Kiribati. https://web.archive.org/web/20160524115319/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/radio/onairhighlights/australia-a-good-friend-of-kiribati. 24 May 2016. Radio Australia.
  20. Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Kiribati. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 30 September 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212020545/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2002/fa139_02.html. 12 February 2014.
  21. News: Australia announces next diplomat in Kiribati. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Radio Australia. 30 September 2002. https://web.archive.org/web/20160524115119/http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/international/2002-09-30/australia-announces-next-diplomat-in-kiribati/608902. 24 May 2016.
  22. Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Kiribati. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government. 16 January 2006. https://web.archive.org/web/20150413093612/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2006/fa009_06.html. 13 April 2015.
  23. News: Australia appoints new representative in Kiribati. 17 January 2006. Radio New Zealand.
  24. Diplomatic Appointment - High Commissioner to Kiribati. https://web.archive.org/web/20150404175405/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2009/fa-s014_09.html. 4 April 2015. Australian Government. Stephen. Smith. Stephen Smith (Australian politician). 4 February 2009.
  25. News: Australia appoints new Kiribati High Commissioner. Australian Broadcasting Commission. 4 February 2009. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107033018/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-04/australia-appoints-new-kiribati-high-commissioner/283282. 7 January 2016.
  26. News: Australia appoints new Kiribati High Commissioner. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107033018/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2009-02-04/australia-appoints-new-kiribati-high-commissioner/283282. 7 January 2016. 4 December 2009. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. ABC News.
  27. Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Kiribati. https://web.archive.org/web/20150404013317/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2012/bc_mr_120429a.html. 4 April 2015. Australian Government. 29 April 2012. Bob. Carr. Bob Carr.
  28. High Commissioner to Kiribati. Julie. Bishop. Julie Bishop. Australian Government. 8 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20160107033440/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2015/jb_mr_151208a.aspx. 7 January 2016.
  29. Web site: Payne. Marise. 19 March 2021. High Commissioner to Kiribati. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211022094444/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/high-commissioner-kiribati. 22 October 2021. 22 October 2021. Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs.
  30. Web site: High Commissioner to Kiribati. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20211022094724/https://www.dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-people/homs/high-commissioner-to-kiribati. 22 October 2021. 22 October 2021. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

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