List of high commissioners of Australia to Malaysia explained

Post:High Commissioner
Body:Australia to Malaysia
Insignia:Coat of Arms of Australia.svg
Insigniasize:120px
Department:Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Incumbent:Dr Justin Lee
Seat:Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur
Residence:33 Jalan Langgak Golf
Nominator:Prime Minister of Australia
Style:His Excellency
Appointer:Governor General of Australia
Reports To:Minister for Foreign Affairs
Formation:22 December 1955
Inaugural:Tom Critchley (Commissioner)
Website:Australian High Commission, Malaysia

The high commissioner of Australia to Malaysia 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 Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and is currently held by Dr Justin Lee since 1 July 2021.

Posting history

On 11 November 1955, the Minister for External Affairs, Richard Casey, announced that Tom Critchley had been appointed to the newly created position of Australian Commissioner to Malaya in Kuala Lumpur, noting that while "relations with the authorities in the Federation of Malaya had been conducted through the Australian Commissioner in South-East Asia, Sir Alan Watt, ... the Australian Government believed that it was appropriate for Australia to have a full-time representative in Kuala Lumpur in the Federation of Malaya as important constitutional developments were carrying the Federation of Malaya to self-government."[1]

Australia was one of 15 countries to establish formal diplomatic relations with the Federation of Malaya in 1957 soon after independence, with the Australian commissioner to Malaya appointed high commissioner from 31 August 1957.[2] With the formation of the Federation of Malaysia on 16 September 1963, the Australian high commissioner to Malaya in Kuala Lumpur became a high commissioner, with the Australian Commissioner for Singapore, Brunei, Sarawak, and North Borneo resident in Singapore becoming a subordinate Deputy High Commission until it was replaced by a high commissioner to an independent Singapore from 9 August 1965.[3]

In 1973, as part of an effort to showcase Australian design in overseas diplomatic missions, the Commonwealth Government of Gough Whitlam commissioned Joyce Nankivell Associates, architects of Melbourne, to design the new High Commission chancery at 6 Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, Kampung Baru, Kuala Lumpur.[4] Designed in a bold Brutalist style with an L-shape plan by Bernard Joyce and William Nankivell in association with local architects Leong Thian & Rakan-rakan, on 29 January 1974 Prime Minister Whitlam turned the first sod at the construction site during an official visit to Malaysia, and the completed building was officially opened on 12 June 1978.[5] [6] [7]

On 30 July 1979, the Australian high commissioner to Malaysia was appointed as the non-resident Commissioner to Brunei, with a stated purpose to "facilitate contacts and closer cooperation with the Government of Brunei during the period leading up to Brunei's full independence in 1983". A resident Australian Commission in Brunei was established in March 1983 in anticipation of Brunei's independence on 1 January 1984.[8]

Heads of mission

Officeholder Title Other offices Residency Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
align=center Commissioner for Malaya and South-East Asian/aSingaporealign=right [9]
align=center (Acting) align=right
align=center align=right
align=center align=right
align=center align=right
align=center High CommissionerKuala Lumpuralign=right [10] [11]
align=center (Acting)n/aalign=right [12]
align=center align=right [13] [14] [15] [16]
align=center align=right [17] [18]
align=center align=right [19] [20] [21]
align=center align=right [22] [23] [24] [25]
align=center align=right [26] [27]
align=center David Evansn/aalign=right [28]
align=center Cavan Hoguealign=right [29]
align=center Frank Murrayalign=right [30] [31]
align=center align=right [32] [33]
align=center align=right [34]
align=center Bob Cottonalign=right [35]
align=center align=right [36]
align=center James Wisealign=right [37]
align=center align=right [38]
align=center Miles Kupaalign=right [39]
align=center Rod Smithalign=right [40]
align=center Andrew Goledzinowskialign=right [41]
align=center Incumbentalign=right [42] [43]

Notes

Commissioner to Malaya until 31 August 1957; High Commissioner to Malaya until 16 September 1963.

Also non-resident Commissioner to Brunei, 1979–1983.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Australian Commissioner in Malaya . Current Notes on International Affairs . November 1955 . 26 . 11 . 777–778 . 11 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  2. Diplomatic Relations with Malaya . Current Notes on International Affairs . August 1957 . 28 . 8 . 645 . 11 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  3. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . October 1963 . 34 . 10 . 68 . 6 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs.
  4. Architects for new Embassy Buildings . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . September 1973 . 44 . 9 . 619–620 . 17 July 2022.
  5. Edquist . Harriett . William H Nankivell Collection . RMIT Design Archives Journal . 2011 . 1 . 2 . 8–13 . 12 November 2022 . RMIT Design Archives, RMIT University.
  6. Web site: Australia now: Lights Up - Kuala Lumpur . Australia now - Malaysia . Australian Government . 12 November 2022 . 2022.
  7. Trade News . Overseas Trading . 27 October 1978 . 30 . 21 . 683 . 12 November 2022 . Australian Trade Commission . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  8. Opening of Australian Commission in Brunei . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . February 1983 . 54 . 2 . 81 . 6 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  9. News: COMMISSIONER TO SINGAPORE. . . Adelaide . 4 January 1946 . 15 August 2015 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: Critchley honoured. 22 November 1965. 1. The Canberra Times. ACT.
  11. News: Replacing Mr Critchley: Transfer leaves diplomatic void. The Canberra Times. ACT. 17 November 1965. 15.
  12. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . November 1965 . 36 . 11 . 796 . 11 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  13. Diplomatic Appointments in Malaysia and to London . Current Notes on International Affairs . October 1965 . 36 . 10 . 650 . 11 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  14. News: New posting for envoys. 1 November 1965. 3. The Canberra Times.
  15. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . December 1965 . 36 . 12 . 866 . 11 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  16. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . June 1969 . 40 . 6 . 340 . 11 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  17. News: Envoy to Malaysia named. 15 March 1969. 3. The Canberra Times.
  18. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Current Notes on International Affairs . July 1969 . 40 . 7 . 110 . 11 November 2022 . Department of External Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  19. News: Diplomatic postings listed. 18 November 1972. The Canberra Times. 8.
  20. Head of Mission Appointments . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . November 1972 . 43 . 11 . 584 . 11 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  21. Representation - Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . February 1973 . 44 . 2 . 144 . 11 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  22. News: New envoy to Malaysia. 29 March 1976. 3. The Canberra Times.
  23. Appointment of High Commissioner to Malaysia . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . March 1976 . 47 . 3 . 170 . 11 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  24. Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . May 1976 . 47 . 5 . 276 . 11 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  25. Appointment of Commissioner to Brunei . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . July 1979 . 50 . 7 . 446–447 . 6 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs.
  26. Diplomatic appointments . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . December 1979 - January 1980 . 51 . 1 . 679 . 11 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  27. Australian Representation Overseas . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . May 1980 . 51 . 5 . 176 . 11 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  28. High Commissioner to Malaysia . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . January 1984 . 55 . 1 . 46 . 11 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  29. High Commissioner to Malaysia . Australian Foreign Affairs Record . March 1987 . 58 . 3 . 167 . 11 November 2022 . Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade . National Library of Australia (Trove).
  30. News: Envoy appointed. 23 April 1990. 4. The Canberra Times.
  31. News: Duffy . Michael . Diplomatic appointment - Malaysia . 11 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 22 April 1990 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  32. News: Dauth posted to Malaysia. 4. The Canberra Times. 27 March 1993.
  33. News: Evans . Gareth . Diplomatic appointment: Malaysia . 11 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 26 March 1993 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  34. News: McMullan . Bob . Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Malaysia [Mr William Farmer] ]. 11 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 12 January 1996 . ParlInfo . Media Release.
  35. Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Malaysia. 12 February 2014. 25 March 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212031514/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1997/fa18_97.html. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government.
  36. Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Malaysia. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212023911/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/1999/fa125_99.html . 12 February 2014. 4 November 1999. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government .
  37. Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Malaysia. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212020438/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2002/fa152_02.html. 12 February 2014. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government . 23 October 2002.
  38. Diplomatic Appointment – High Commissioner to Malaysia. https://web.archive.org/web/20140212010203/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2007/fa008_07.html . 12 February 2014. 30 January 2007. Alexander. Downer. Alexander Downer. Australian Government .
  39. Diplomatic Appointment - High Commissioner to Malaysia. https://web.archive.org/web/20140325225924/http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2010/fa-s100505a.html. 25 March 2014. 5 May 2010. Australian Government. Stephen. Smith. Stephen Smith (Australian politician).
  40. High Commissioner to Malaysia. https://web.archive.org/web/20140802093148/http://foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2013/jb_mr_131126.aspx?ministerid=4. 2 August 2014. 26 November 2013. Australian Government. Julie. Bishop. Julie Bishop.
  41. High Commissioner to Malaysia. Julie. Bishop. Australian Government. 20 November 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20180316070005/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/Pages/2017/jb_mr_171120.aspx?w=tb1CaGpkPX%2FlS0K%2Bg9ZKEg%3D%3D. 16 March 2018.
  42. News: Payne . Marise . High Commissioner to Malaysia . 11 November 2022 . Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government . 25 June 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210729230732/https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/high-commissioner-malaysia . 29 July 2021 . Media Release.
  43. News: Gopinath . Anandhi . Newly minted Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia Dr Justin Lee to strengthen trade relationship between two countries through agriculture . 11 November 2022 . . 8 November 2021.

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