List of Australian High Commissioners to 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.[2] The position has the rank and status of an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and is currently held by Bruce Cowled. 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).[3]

High Commissioner of Australia to Kiribati
Incumbent
Bruce Cowled
since 8 December 2015
StyleHis Excellency
NominatorPrime Minister of Australia
AppointerGovernor General of Australia
Inaugural holderJohn Mahoney[1]
Formation6 August 1982
WebsiteAustralian High Commission, Kiribati

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 also cross-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."[4]

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.[5]

Office-holders

Commissioners/High Commissioners, resident in Nauru
NameStart of termEnd of termNotes
Leslie Sellars19721975
Alan Fogg19751977
Maris King19771979
Oliver Cordell19791981

Resident High Commissioners
NameStart of termEnd of termNotes
John Mahoney6 August 19821984[1]
William Rowe19851986[6][7]
Peter Bassett19871990[8][9]
Laurie B. Maher19901994
Stewart D. Brooks19941997[10]
Phillip Allars19972000[11]
Colin Hill20002003[12][13]
Jurek Juszczyk20032006[14][15]
Anne Quinane20062009[16][17]
Brett Aldam20092012[18][19][20]
George Fraser20122015[21][22]
Bruce Cowled2015[23][24]

References
  1. Street, Tony (5 August 1982). "DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT: KIRIBATI" (Press release). Australian Government.
  2. CA 8038: Australian High Commission, Kiribati [Tarawa], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 7 January 2016
  3. "Australia's Relationship with Developing Countries - Kiribati" (PDF). DFAT. Retrieved 8 May 2016.
  4. Street, Tony (16 August 1981). "HIGH COMMISSION IN KIRIBATI" (Press release). Australian Government.
  5. Atkinson, Joel (2013). Australia and Taiwan: Bilateral Relations, China, the United States, and the South Pacific. Leiden: BRILL. p. 174.
  6. Hayden, Bill (24 March 1985). "DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT: KIRIBATI" (Press release). Australian Government.
  7. "Diplomatic appointments". The Canberra Times. 25 March 1985. p. 3.
  8. Hayden, Bill (24 August 1987). "DIPLOMATIC APPOINTMENT: KIRIBATI" (Press release). Australian Government.
  9. "Hayden names 7 envoys". The Canberra Times. 25 August 1987. p. 3.
  10. "New diplomatic assignments". The Canberra Times. 14 December 1993. p. 12.
  11. Downer, Alexander (17 December 1996). "Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Kiribati" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  12. Downer, Alexander (20 October 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Kiribati" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  13. "Australia a good friend of Kiribati". Radio Australia. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016.
  14. Downer, Alexander (30 September 2002). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Kiribati" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  15. "Australia announces next diplomat in Kiribati". Radio Australia. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 30 September 2002. Archived from the original on 24 May 2016.
  16. Downer, Alexander (16 January 2006). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner To Kiribati" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015.
  17. "Australia appoints new representative in Kiribati". Radio New Zealand. 17 January 2006.
  18. Smith, Stephen (4 February 2009). "Diplomatic Appointment - High Commissioner to Kiribati" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
  19. "Australia appoints new Kiribati High Commissioner". Australian Broadcasting Commission. 4 February 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016.
  20. "Australia appoints new Kiribati High Commissioner". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016.
  21. Carr, Bob (29 April 2012). "Diplomatic appointment: High Commissioner to Kiribati" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 April 2015.
  22. "Australia Announces New High Commissioner To Kiribati", Pacific Islands Development Program, Radio Australia, archived from the original on 24 May 2016
  23. Bishop, Julie (8 December 2015). "High Commissioner to Kiribati" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 7 January 2016.
  24. "Senior Appointments: Cowled to Kiribati", PS News (485 ed.), 8 December 2015
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