Foreign relations of Australia are influenced by its position as a leading trading nation and as a significant donor of humanitarian aid. Australia's foreign policy is guided by a commitment to multilateralism and regionalism, as well as to strong bilateral relations with its allies. Key concerns include free trade, terrorism, refugees, economic co-operation with Asia and stability in the Asia-Pacific. Australia is active in the United Nations and the Commonwealth of Nations. Given its history of starting and supporting important regional and global initiatives, it has been described as a regional middle power par excellence.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the department of the Australian federal government responsible for foreign policy and relations, international aid, consular services and trade and investment.
Peter Richard Woolcott is an Australian public servant, diplomat and the current Australian Public Service Commissioner. He was previously the Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. Woolcott has served as the Australia's High Commissioner to New Zealand, the Australian Ambassador for the Environment, the Australian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva, the Australian Ambassador to Italy, the Deputy Head of Mission in Jakarta, and the Consul-General in Honolulu.
Frances Adamson is an Australian public servant and diplomat. On 20 July 2016, she was appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) by the Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull; the first ever female Secretary to be appointed to the portfolio. From 2015 to 2016 she was foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and from 2011 to 2015 she was Australian Ambassador to China.
Jonathan (Jon) Philp is an Australian diplomat and career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Louise Helen Hand is an Australian diplomat and is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Patrick Colin Lawless is an Australian diplomat and senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).
David James Ritchie is an Australian diplomat and a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). His last appointment was as Ambassador for Australia to Germany, a post to which he was appointed in 2013.
The Ambassador of Australia to Germany is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Federal Republic of Germany. The position has the rank and status of an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and holds non-resident accreditation for Switzerland and Liechtenstein. There is also a Consulate-General in Frankfurt am Main, the German financial capital, which is managed by Austrade. Although the ambassador in Berlin has ultimate responsibility for relations with the Swiss Government, there exists a Consulate-General and Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Geneva. The ambassador is currently Philip Green.
The Ambassador of Australia to the Association of South East Asian Nations is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the delegation of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Jakarta, Indonesia. Australia has been in involved with ASEAN since 1974, when it became the first Dialogue Partner to ASEAN, with involvement in the East Asia Summit and the ASEAN Regional Forum.
The Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations Office in Geneva is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the delegation of the Commonwealth of Australia to the United Nations Office in Geneva, Switzerland, and also as Permanent Representative of Australia to the Conference on Disarmament.
The High Commissioner of Australia to Sri Lanka 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 the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka in Colombo. The High Commissioner has the rank and status of an Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and is currently David Holly, who also holds non-resident accreditation as Ambassador to the Maldives.
Diplomatic relations between Australia and Morocco were established in 1976. Morocco has had an embassy in Canberra since 2004 and the Australian Embassy in Rabat was established in May 2017, upgrading the existing Austrade office in Rabat. Previously the Australian Embassy in Paris was accredited to Morocco since 1978.
Penny Williams is an Australian public servant and diplomat. From 2007 to 2010, Williams was Australian High Commissioner to Malaysia.
