List of high commissioners of Australia to Malta

High Commissioner of Australia to Malta
Incumbent
Matt Skelly
since 11 July 2023
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
StyleHis Excellency
Reports toMinister for Foreign Affairs
SeatSliema (1967–1992)
Ta' Xbiex (since 1993)
NominatorPrime Minister of Australia
AppointerGovernor General of Australia
Inaugural holderDouglas Sturkey (Acting)
Formation30 March 1967
WebsiteAustralian High Commission, Malta

The high commissioner of Australia to Malta 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 Malta. The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and is currently held by Jennifer Cartmill since 22 July 2020. The high commissioner also holds non-resident accreditation as ambassador to Tunisia (since 2012). There has been a resident Australian high commissioner in Malta since 1967.[1]

Posting history

Australia first established an official presence in Malta with the establishment of a Migration Office on 4 September 1961, with the primary responsibility of managing the migration of Maltese to Australia, based in the Palazzo Spinola in Valletta until 1963, and then in Airways House in Sliema from 1963.[2] Australia recognised the State of Malta on its independence on 21 September 1964, with a former Commonwealth minister, Alick Downer, and the ambassador of Australia to the Netherlands, Walter Crocker, representing Australia during the independence celebrations on 19–23 September.[3]

On 12 October 1966, the government of Harold Holt approved the establishment of a resident High Commission in Malta, and on 6 November 1966 during an official visit to Melbourne by the Prime Minister of Malta, Borg Olivier, prime ministers Holt and Olivier issued a joint communique indicating that the appointment of a high commissioner was imminent.[4] An officer with the Department of External Affairs, Douglas Sturkey, took up office as acting high commissioner in Malta on 30 March 1967.[5] The first high commissioner, former immigration minister Sir Hubert Opperman, took up office in July 1967 and presented his letters of commission on 24 July 1967.[6]

Tunisia

The first resident Australian Ambassador to Algeria since 5 April 1976, John Anthony Piper, was accredited to Tunisia as non-resident Ambassador on 22 October 1976, and presented his credentials to the President of Tunisia, Habib Bourguiba, on 23 June 1977.[7][8][9] Responsibility for Tunisia was transferred from the Algiers embassy to the Australian Embassy in Amman, Jordan, on 3 January 1989.[10] From 3 January 1989 to 14 April 1999, the Australian Ambassador to Jordan was accredited to Tunisia.[11]

From 14 April 1999 until December 2012, non-resident accreditation for Tunisia was held by the Ambassador of Australia to Egypt in Cairo.[12] The Australian High Commission in Malta has been accredited to Tunisia since the appointment of Jane Lambert in December 2012 as the non-resident ambassador.[13]

High commissioners

No. 14 Ir-Rampa Ta'Xbiex, chancery of the Australian High Commission since 1993.
# Officeholder Residency Other offices Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
− Douglas Sturkey (Acting) Sliema n/a 30 March 1967 (1967-03-30) July 1967 (1967-07) 3 months [5]
1 Sir Hubert Opperman July 1967 (1967-07) 20 September 1972 (1972-09-20) 5 years, 2 months [14][15][16][17][6][18]
2 Bill Cutts 20 September 1972 (1972-09-20) June 1975 (1975-06) 2 years, 8 months [19]
3 Ian Nicholson June 1975 (1975-06) October 1976 (1976-10) 1 year, 4 months [20]
4 John McMillan A October 1976 (1976-10) 22 August 1978 (1978-08-22) 1 year, 10 months [21]
− Geoffrey Pretyman (Acting) n/a 22 August 1978 (1978-08-22) 31 August 1981 (1981-08-31) 3 years, 9 days [1]
5 Guy Cotsell B 31 August 1981 (1981-08-31) September 1984 (1984-09) 3 years [22][23]
6 Ross Smith n/a September 1984 (1984-09) May 1987 (1987-05) 2 years, 8 months [24]
7 Gregory Gibson May 1987 (1987-05) September 1990 (1990-09) 3 years, 4 months [25][26]
8 John Mahoney September 1990 (1990-09) 1992 (1992) 3 years, 2 months [27]
Ta' Xbiex 1993 (1993) November 1993 (1993-11)
9 Christopher Freeman November 1993 (1993-11) January 1997 (1997-01) 3 years, 2 months [28][29]
10 Colin Willis January 1997 (1997-01) February 2000 (2000-02) 3 years, 1 month [30]
11 Iain Dickie February 2000 (2000-02) July 2003 (2003-07) 3 years, 5 months [31]
12 Richard Palk July 2003 (2003-07) August 2006 (2006-08) 3 years, 1 month [32]
13 Jurek Juszczyk August 2006 (2006-08) December 2009 (2009-12) 3 years, 4 months [33]
14 Anne Quinane December 2009 (2009-12) December 2012 (2012-12) 3 years [34]
15 Jane Lambert C December 2012 (2012-12) December 2016 (2016-12) 4 years [13]
16 Julienne Hince C December 2016 (2016-12) February 2020 (2020-02) 3 years, 2 months [35]
− Suzanne McKellar (Acting) C February 2020 (2020-02) 20 July 2020 (2020-07-20) 5 months [36]
17 Jennifer Cartmill C 20 July 2020 (2020-07-20) 11 July 2023 (2023-07-11) 4 years, 94 days [37][38][39][40]
18 Matt Skelly Ta' Xbiex C 11 July 2023 (2023-07-11) Incumbent 1 year, 103 days [41][42][43]

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Notes

^A Also non-resident ambassador to the Holy See, 1976–1978.
^B Acting high commissioner until 14 July 1982.
^C Also non-resident ambassador to Tunisia, 2012–present.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b CA 1696: Australian High Commission, Malta [Valletta], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 5 November 2015
  2. ^ CA 1697: Australian Migration Office, Sliema [Malta], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 12 November 2022
  3. ^ "Maltese Independence". Current Notes on International Affairs. 35 (9). Department of External Affairs: 38–39. September 1964 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  4. ^ "Australian/Maltese Relations". Current Notes on International Affairs. 37 (11). Department of External Affairs: 706. November 1966. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  5. ^ a b "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 38 (3). National Library of Australia (Trove): Department of External Affairs: 125. March 1967. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Current Notes on International Affairs. 38 (7). Department of External Affairs: 300. July 1967. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  7. ^ "Ambassador to Tunisia identifier". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 47 (10). Department of Foreign Affairs: 564. October 1976. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  8. ^ "Australia's relations with Tunisia identifier". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 48 (2). Department of Foreign Affairs: 106. February 1977. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  9. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 48 (6). Department of Foreign Affairs: 332. June 1977. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  10. ^ CA 8166: Australian Embassy, Algeria [Algiers], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 12 November 2022
  11. ^ CA 7162: Australian Embassy, Jordan [Amman], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 12 November 2022
  12. ^ "Countries and regions: Tunisia". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 14 October 2012. Retrieved 12 November 2022. The Australian Embassy in Cairo, Egypt, has Non Residential Accreditation for Tunisia
  13. ^ a b Carr, Bob (11 October 2012). "High Commissioner to Malta" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  14. ^ "Mr Opperman first envoy to Malta". The Canberra Times. ACT. 16 December 1966. p. 1.
  15. ^ "Opperman to leave in June". The Canberra Times. ACT. 10 March 1967. p. 8.
  16. ^ "'Oppy' says good-bye". Good Neighbour. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 June 1967. p. 2. Retrieved 13 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ Holt, Harold (15 December 1966). "PM 121/1966 - The Hon Hubert Opperman OBE MP, High Commissioner for Malta" (Media Release). PM Transcripts - Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Prime Minister of Australia. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  18. ^ "Representation - Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 43 (9). Department of Foreign Affairs: 481. September 1972. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  19. ^ Bowen, Nigel (11 August 1972). "Appointment of Australian High Commissioner to Malta" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  20. ^ Willesee, Don (21 April 1975). "Appointment of Australian High Commissioner to Malta" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  21. ^ Peacock, Andrew (10 August 1976). "High Commissioner to Malta" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  22. ^ Street, Tony (31 August 1981). "Diplomatic appointment: Malta" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  23. ^ Street, Tony (14 July 1982). "Malta: High Commissioner" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  24. ^ Hayden, Bill (9 November 1983). "Diplomatic appointment: Malta" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  25. ^ "Diplomatic listings". The Canberra Times. 27 March 1987. p. 8.
  26. ^ Hayden, Bill (24 March 1987). "Diplomatic Appointment: Malta" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  27. ^ Duffy, Michael (10 August 1990). "Diplomatic appointment - Malta" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  28. ^ "High Commissioner". The Canberra Times. 6 September 1993. p. 2.
  29. ^ Evans, Gareth (3 September 1993). "Diplomatic appointment: Malta" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 12 November 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  30. ^ Downer, Alexander (17 December 1996). "Diplomatic Appointment: High Commissioner to Malta" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  31. ^ Downer, Alexander (30 September 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment - High Commissioner to Malta" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  32. ^ Downer, Alexander (5 March 2003). "Diplomatic Appointment - High Commissioner to Malta" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  33. ^ Downer, Alexander (27 April 2006). "Diplomatic appointment - High Commissioner to Malta" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 13 April 2015.
  34. ^ Smith, Stephen (18 November 2009). "Diplomatic Appointment - High Commissioner to Malta" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  35. ^ Bishop, Julie (14 November 2016). "High Commissioner to Malta" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 15 November 2016.
  36. ^ "High Commissioner". Australian High Commission Malta. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  37. ^ "Press Release by the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs" (Press Release). Department of Information, Government of Malta. 22 July 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  38. ^ "Press Release by the Office of the President: High Commissioner of Australia Jennifer Cartmill presents her Letters of Credence to the President of Malta" (Press Release). Department of Information, Government of Malta. 23 July 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  39. ^ Payne, Marise (4 September 2020). "High Commissioner to Malta". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Archived from the original on 25 September 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  40. ^ "Curriculum Vitae of H.E. Ms Jennifer Cartmill Designate High Commissioner of Australia" (PDF). Government of Malta. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 12 November 2022.
  41. ^ "Press Release by the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs" (Press Release). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  42. ^ "High Commissioner to Malta" (Press Release). Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
  43. ^ Wong, Penny (11 July 2024). "High Commissioner to Malta". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Retrieved 7 August 2024.
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