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27-01-2026
CANBERRA: Defence department boss Greg Moriarty will be the next Australian ambassador to the US, replacing outgoing ambassador Kevin Rudd.
Moriarty has served as the Defence secretary for nearly a decade and was previously chief of staff to then-prime minister Malcolm Turnbull.
The secretary has also held senior roles in counter terrorism and has served as the ambassador to Indonesia and Iran.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his recommendation of Moriarty while speaking to media.
“I know Moriarty very well, and I have been impressed by the dignified way in which he handles himself,” Albanese said.
Moriarty is the first non-political appointee to be named for the ambassadorship since Dennis Richardson ended his tenure in 2010.
Since then, it has been held by former Labor leader Kim Beazley, former Liberal treasurer Joe Hockey; former Liberal minister Arthur Sinodinos and former Labor Prime Minister Kevin Rudd.
The prime minister said the Trump administration had been consulted on the appointment, as was the usual process.
In a statement Rudd said he was “delighted” by Moriarty’s appointment.
“He is deeply familiar with AUKUS and will be a critical leader in driving AUKUS to implementation,” Rudd said.
“This relationship could be in no better hands.”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley welcomed the decision.
“Moriarty has a proven track record of advancing Australia’s national interest under both Labor and Liberal governments. He has served Australia in a distinguished career spanning diplomatic appointments and key roles in Australia’s defence and intelligence communities,” Ms Ley said in a statement.
“In a period of global uncertainty a strong alliance with the United States of America is more important than ever. Moriarty is a safe pair of hands.”
Trump’s insult to troops in Afghanistan ‘not acceptable’
Moriarty will begin the ambassadorship as US tensions with its western allies mount over President Donald Trump’s demands for Greenland to be handed to the US and his administration’s ongoing tariff campaign.
Trump has also upset US allies who fought alongside the nation in Afghanistan for most of this century after he downplayed this involvement, saying NATO-allied troops “stayed a little off the front lines”.
The president walked back those remarks after UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer demanded an apology, calling British troops “great and very brave”.
Albanese said Trump’s remarks were “not acceptable”.
“I note that President Trump has made a new statement overnight as well in which he’s acknowledged the contribution,” he said.
“Those 47 Australian families (of soldiers who died fighting in Afghanistan) will be hurting by these comments, they deserve our absolute respect, admiration.
“The bravery that was shown by 40,000 Australians who served in Afghanistan, they were certainly on the front lines.”
Liberal leadership aspirant Andrew Hastie, who served in Afghanistan, said on social media overnight that Trump’s remarks were “a massive slur”.
“One of the most important things in building coalitions and alliances is mutual respect and a really important virtue in a leader is restraint. President Trump by dumping on allied troops has shown neither,” Hastie said.
Albanese also confirmed that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney would visit Australia in March. (Int’l News Desk)
