List of high commissioners of Australia to Nauru explained

Post:High Commissioner of Australia to Nauru
Insignia:Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Department:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Incumbent:Helen Cheney
Incumbentsince:September 2021
Residence:Aiwo District
Nominator:Prime Minister of Australia
Style:Her Excellency
Appointer:Governor General of Australia
Reports To:Minister for Foreign Affairs
Formation:26 August 1968
Inaugural:James Jackson
(Representative)
Website:Australian High Commission, Republic of Nauru

The high commissioner of Australia to Nauru is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the High Commission of the Commonwealth of Australia in Nauru. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and is currently by Helen Cheney since September 2021. Australia is one of only two countries to have a resident diplomatic mission in Nauru, the other being the embassy of Taiwan.

Posting history

See also: Australia–Nauru relations. With the end of the Australian trusteeship administration and the formal independence of Nauru on 31 January 1968, the Australian Government appointed a Representative to the small island nation. With the establishment of a resident Australian High Commission on Nauru's admission to the Commonwealth of Nations in 1972, the position also had responsibility as the Commissioner for the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1972–1976) and the Gilbert Islands (1976–1979), and then as the 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, which was achieved in August 1982.[1]

In January 1975, Alan Fogg was appointed Commissioner in Nauru, and also as non-resident commissioner to the Solomon Islands. With the independence of the Solomon Islands in 1978, the resident Australian High Commission was established on 7 July 1978. In December 1981, career diplomat Rodney Hodgson was announced as the next high commissioner to Nauru. However a few weeks later he was killed in a car accident, before he could take up his appointment.[2] [3] [4]

When the new Commonwealth government of Prime Minister John Howard cut the budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1996–97, forcing the closure of the High Commission in Nauru, in July 1997, accreditation for Nauru was transferred to the high commission in Suva, Fiji.[5] From 1997 to 2009, the position of high commissioner was held by the high commissioner resident in Fiji. A Consulate-General in Nauru was opened in 2002, which was subsequently upgraded to a High Commission on 4 August 2009.[6]

Heads of mission

Officeholder Title Other offices Residency Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center James JacksonRepresentativen/aAiwo Districtalign=right [7]
align=center Richard Gatealign=right [8] [9]
align=center K. R. Fraser (Acting) align=right [10]
align=center Leslie SellarsHigh Commissioneralign=right [11]
align=center align=right [12]
align=center align=right [13] [14] [15]
align=center Oliver Cordellalign=right [16]
align=center Ross Smithn/aalign=right [17] [18]
align=center David Wadham (Acting)align=right
align=center John Powysalign=right [19]
align=center Beris Gwynnealign=right [20]
align=center Barry Wybornalign=right [21]
align=center Denis Fitzgeraldalign=right [22]
align=center Tom Sinkovitsalign=right [23]
align=center Suva, Fijialign=right [24]
align=center Susan Boydalign=right [25]
align=center Jennifer Rawsonalign=right [26]
align=center James Batleyalign=right [27] [28] [29]
align=center George FraserAiwo Districtalign=right [30] [31]
align=center Bruce Cowledn/aalign=right [32]
align=center Martin Quinnalign=right [33]
align=center John Donnellyalign=right [34]
align=center Angela Tierneyalign=right [35]
align=center Andrew Hodges (Acting)align=right
align=center Helen CheneyIncumbentalign=right [36] [37]

Notes

Also non-resident Commissioner to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands (1972–1976), Commissioner to the Gilbert Islands (1976–1979), and as High Commissioner to Kiribati (1979–1982).

Also non-resident Commissioner to the Solomon Islands, 1975–1978.

Prior to appointment as High Commissioner, served as resident Special Representative and Consul-General from 11 October 2005 until 2 August 2009.

External links

Notes and References

  1. HIGH COMMISSION IN KIRIBATI. Tony. Street. Tony Street. Australian Government. 16 August 1981.
  2. News: Envoys appointed. 2 December 1981. The Canberra Times. 3.
  3. News: Diplomat killed. 1. The Sydney Morning Herald. 21 December 1981.
  4. News: Woman cricketer, father killed. The Canberra Times. 20 December 1981. 1.
  5. Corporate Overview - Overseas Posts . Annual Report 1996/1997 . 1997 . 259 . 21 . 22 July 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
  6. News: Downer . Alexander . Continuation of Australia's Temporary Presence in Nauru . 24 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 13 May 2003 . https://web.archive.org/web/20031013023329/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2003/fa049_03.html . 13 October 2003 . Media Release.
  7. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . August 1968 . 39 . 8 . 358 . 24 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  8. Diplomatic appointments . Current Notes on International Affairs . August 1970 . 41 . 8 . 442 . 24 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  9. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . September 1970 . 41 . 9 . 513 . 24 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  10. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . September 1972 . 43 . 9 . 481 . 24 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  11. Australian Representation—Nauru . Current Notes on International Affairs . November 1972 . 43 . 11 . 585 . 5 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  12. New Man in Nauru . Pacific Islands Monthly . February 1975 . 46 . 2 . 13 . 5 November 2022.
  13. Diplomatic Appointments . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . January 1977 . 48 . 1 . 51 . 5 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  14. Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . May 1977 . 48 . 5 . 276 . 5 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  15. News: Foreign Affairs posting. 17 January 1977. 3. The Canberra Times.
  16. Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . July 1979 . 50 . 7 . 452 . 5 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  17. News: Commissioner to Nauru appointed. 3. The Canberra Times. 24 August 1982.
  18. News: Street . Tony . Diplomatic appointment: Nauru . 24 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 23 August 1982 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  19. News: Hayden . Bill . Diplomatic appointment - Nauru . 24 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 31 December 1985 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  20. News: Duffy . Michael . Diplomatic appointment - Nauru . 24 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 14 April 1988 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  21. News: Evans . Gareth . Diplomatic Appointment: Nauru . 24 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 30 November 1989 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  22. News: Blewett . Neal . Diplomatic appointment: Nauru . 24 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 19 December 1991 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  23. News: Evans . Gareth . Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to the Republic of Nauru . 24 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 3 February 1995 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  24. Diplomatic appointment: Fiji and Tuvalu. Australian Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212032706/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1995/m19.html. 12 February 2014. Gareth. Evans. Gareth Evans (politician). 10 March 1995.
  25. Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Fiji. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212024203/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1999/fa063_99.html. 12 February 2014. 8 June 1999. Australian Government. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer.
  26. Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Fiji. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212015746/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2003/fa056_03.html. 12 February 2014. 29 May 2003. Australian Government. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer.
  27. Diplomatic appointment – High Commissioner to Fiji. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. 9 January 2007. Australian Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20140211200607/http://www.fiji.embassy.gov.au/suva/BATLEYAPT.html . 11 February 2014.
  28. News: Another diplomatic spat with Fiji. Jenny. Hayward-Jones. 4 November 2009. Lowy Interpreter. Lowy Institute for International Policy.
  29. News: Fiji expels high commissioner . Chris. Merritt. The Australian. News Ltd. 4 November 2009. 27 February 2015.
  30. Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Nauru. Stephen. Smith. Stephen Smith (Australian politician). Australian Government. 12 January 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20150402004118/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2010/fa-s100112b.html. 2 April 2015.
  31. News: APPOINTMENT OF CONSUL-GENERAL AND SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR AUSTRALIA IN NAURU . 24 November 2022 . Republic of Nauru Government Gazette . 12 October 2005 . Media Release.
  32. Diplomatic Appointment – High Commissioner to Nauru. Stephen. Smith. Stephen Smith (Australian politician). Australian Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20150401130039/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2010/fa-s100908c.html. 1 April 2015. 8 September 2010.
  33. High Commissioner to Nauru. Julie. Bishop. Julie Bishop. 13 February 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20150405043207/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2014/jb_mr_140213c.aspx?ministerid=4. 5 April 2015. Australian Government.
  34. High Commissioner to Nauru . Julie . Bishop . Julie Bishop . 26 November 2015 . Australian Government . https://web.archive.org/web/20160113214017/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2015/jb_mr_151126.aspx?w=tb1CaGpkPX%2FlS0K%2Bg9ZKEg%3D%3D . 13 January 2016 . dead.
  35. High Commissioner to Nauru . Julie . Bishop . 27 November 2017 . Australian Government. https://web.archive.org/web/20190324115446/https://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2017/jb_mr_171127.aspx?w=tb1CaGpkPX%2FlS0K%2Bg9ZKEg%3D%3D . 24 March 2019.
  36. Australian High Commissioner to Nauru presents credentials . 7 October 2021 . Australian Government.
  37. News: Payne . Marise . Marise Payne . High Commissioner to Nauru . 24 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 25 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210729213451/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/high-commissioner-nauru . 29 July 2021 . Media Release.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of high commissioners of Australia to Nauru".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.