Greg Moriarty named Australia’s next ambassador to United States, replacing Kevin Rudd

Department of Defence secretary Greg Moriarty will replace Kevin Rudd as Australia’s Ambassador to the US.

In a joint statement with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Moriarty 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”.

Mr Albanese told the Insiders program that the Trump administration had been consulted on the appointment.

“I know Mr Moriarty very well, and I’ve been impressed by the dignified way in which he handles himself, by his connections in the United States as well,” Mr Albanese said.

“I engaged very broadly in discussions about who the right person was.

“Including with the Trump administration, who have been consulted on this appointment.”

Mr Rudd is due to step down from the position in March.

Mr Moriarty, who first studied at the University of WA, recently led a delegation to Washington for high level talks and declared the US alliance “more important than ever”.

After meeting with senior US officials, including Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, to discuss various joint military initiatives such as the AUKUS submarine partnership, he praised Donald Trump’s national security strategy as “reassuring” for Australia.

What is Greg Moriarty’s background?

Mr Moriarty holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with honours from his time at UWA as well as a Masters in Strategic and Defence Studies from the Australian National University.

In his statement on the ambassador appointment, Mr Albanese outlined Mr Moriarty’s long service.

“Mr Moriarty has served overseas in a number of posts, including in the headquarters of the United States Central Command in the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm,” the statement read.

“He was Ambassador to Indonesia from 2010-2014 and Ambassador to Iran from 2005-2008. Earlier he served in Papua New Guinea, and as Senior Negotiator of the Peace Monitoring Group on Bougainville.

“In 2015, Mr Moriarty was appointed as Australia’s inaugural Counter Terrorism Coordinator in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

“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.”

‘Safe pair of hands’

Opposition leader Sussan Ley has welcomed Mr Moriarty’s appointment, saying he was a “safe pair of hands” with 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,” she said.

“In this period of global uncertainty a strong alliance with the United States of America is more important than ever. Mr Moriarty is a safe pair of hands to advance Australia’s interest, build this relationship and ensure AUKUS reaches its full potential.”

But, while the appointment has been largely welcomed, Greens MP David Shoebridge made his displeasure known.

“In the Commonwealth under Labor and the Coalition, if you are a senior mate, you always fail upwards. Defence Secretary Moriarty has overseen procurement disasters and scandals, the AUKUS debacle and recruitment fails - so next stop Washington of course,” he wrote in a post on X.

Kevin Rudd responds

Responding to the news of his replacement, Mr Rudd said he was “delighted”.

“Greg has worked on alliance relations with the US for decades,” he wrote in a statement on X.

“He is deeply familiar with AUKUS and will be a critical leader in driving AUKUS to implementation. And he is also an experienced diplomat having served as Australian Ambassador in Indonesia and earlier Iran.”