Beazley, Nelson appointed ambassadors to US and Europe

by Maireid Sullivan | September 16, 2009 at 06:51 pm

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While I believe Kim Beazley is a man of high integrity, I haven't followed Dr. Nelson's career.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has announced Kim Beazley as Australia's ambassador to the United States and Brendan Nelson as the nation's envoy to the European Union.

The top diplomatic jobs were announced late this morning by the Prime Minister in Canberra.

“Today I'll be asking the Governor-General (Quentin Bryce) to approve the appointment of Kim Beazley as Australia's next ambassador to the United States of America," he said.

“I'll also be asking the Governor-General to approve the appointment of Brendan Nelson as Australia's next ambassador to the European Communities as Australia's representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and special representative to the World Health Organisation and as Australia's ambassador to Belgian and Luxembourg.

“These two appointments will ensure two respected and proud Australians continue to serve their country in the highest capacity,” the prime minister added.

Mr Beazley, a former Hawke Government defence minister, will take over from Dennis Richardson who is now heading the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Dr Nelson, like Mr Beazley a former defence minister and head of the Australian Medical Association, will also serve as Canberra's representative to NATO, the UN's World Health Organisation and as ambassador to Belgium and Luxemburg.

Mr Rudd said nobody was better qualified to serve as US ambassador than Mr Beazley.

[q url"http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,26086213-601,00.html"]“There are very few people in this country who know the United States better than Kim Beazley, and there are very few people in this country who are more respected than Kim Beazley,” the prime minister said.

Mr Beazley was a minister from 1983 to 1996 in the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments, holding at various times the portfolios of defence, finance, transport and communications, employment, education and training, aviation and special minister of state. He retired from Parliament in 2007.

Dr Nelson, the former leader of the Liberal Party, is retiring from federal politics today when parliament rises. He replaces Dr Alan Thomas who has been ambassador since January 2007. [/q]

Mr Beazley, presently chancellor of the Australian National University in Canberra, was opposition leader twice during the Howard government years, the first when Labor lost power in 1996 and the second in 2005 when he replaced Mark Latham.

He was the nation's youngest-ever defence minister when prime minister Bob Hawke appointed him to the senior role in 1984.

Mr Beazley described his appointment as “an enormous honour”, saying he could not think of a better thing to do at this time.

[q url"http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,24897,26086213-601,00.html"]Mr Rudd defended the appointment of Mr Beazley and Dr Nelson over professional diplomats.

He said Dr Nelson's experience as defence minister was important in the European role, especially the relationship with NATO.

Mr Rudd said the decision to upgrade the European Communities post came from a visit he made to Brussels in 2008 when he indicated that Australia wanted to enhance the relationship.

“We need a person of distinction and with great experience to discharge this function,” he said, adding he was delighted Dr Nelson had accepted the appointment.

Both Mr Beazley and Dr Nelson will take up their appointments in February. [/q]

- with AAP

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