Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty announced as Australia's next ambassador to US
Updated . First published at
Department of Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty will replace Kevin Rudd as Australia's next ambassador to the United States, the government has announced.
"The Albanese Government will recommend to the Governor-General that Mr Greg Moriarty AO be Australia's next Ambassador to the United States of America," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement.
"Mr Moriarty is uniquely experienced to take forward the Australia-US alliance.
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Secretary of the Department of Defence Greg Moriarty during an estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 6 November 2024. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen Alex Ellinghausen
"He has unsurpassed credentials across Australia's international policy from his senior roles in the Australian Public Service, including Secretary of the Department of Defence since 2017.
Moriarty has extensive experience within the government, serving as Australia's ambassador to Indonesia, from 2010 to 2014, and Iran, from 2005 to 2008.
"Mr Moriarty has held senior positions in the Office of the Prime Minister, as International and National Security Adviser, and later as Chief of Staff, to then Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull," Albanese said.
"In 2015, Mr Moriarty was appointed as Australia's inaugural Counter Terrorism Coordinator in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet."
Rudd stepped down from his ambassadorial role a year earlier than expected. Alex Ellinghausen/Nine
During his time in the defence department, Moriarty oversaw "an historic increase" in the Defence budget, Albanese said.
"He has also led the Department working with counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom in the development and implementation of AUKUS," he said.
"We again thank the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC for his service."
Rudd stepped down from his ambassadorial role a year earlier than expected, after a tenure marred by tensions with the US president.
That included an awkward encounter with Donald Trump in October, who claimed he didn't like Rudd and "probably never will" after historic social media posts criticising the president as a "traitor to the West" recirculated.
Rudd said he would remain in the US to take up a role as president and chief executive of the Asia Society think tank.
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