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List of ambassadors of Australia to Morocco

The Ambassador of Australia to Morocco 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 Kingdom of Morocco. The Ambassador resides in Rabat. The current ambassador since October 2020 is Michael Cutts. From 1976 to 2017, the position was concurrently held by the Australian Ambassador to France, resident in Paris.

Ambassador of Australia to Morocco
Incumbent
Michael Cutts
since October 2020
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
StyleHis Excellency
Reports toMinister for Foreign Affairs
SeatParis (1978–2017)
Rabat (2017–date)
NominatorPrime Minister of Australia
AppointerGovernor General of Australia
Inaugural holderHarold David Anderson
Formation13 July 1976
WebsiteAustralian Embassy, Morocco

Posting history

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See also: Australia–Morocco relations

On 13 July 1976, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Andrew Peacock, announced the release of a joint statement marking the establishment of diplomatic relations with Morocco as "a mark of the desire of both countries to consolidate and strengthen mutual understanding and to stimulate cultural and commercial links."[1] On 19 January 1977, the serving Australian Ambassador to France, Harold David Anderson, presented his credentials as the non-resident accredited ambassador to King Hassan II of Morocco.[2]

In February 2012, the Australian Parliament Foreign Affairs Sub-committee of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade undertook an inquiry into the state of Australia's overseas postings. The Ambassador of Morocco to Australia, Mohamed Mael-Ainin, subsequently made a submission to the inquiry arguing for the establishment of an Australian embassy in Morocco, noting: "An Australian embassy in Rabat, like all other great powers, will give an impetus to our ascending bilateral cooperation as well as facilitate Australia’s interests in neighbouring countries, especially French-speaking countries, in Africa."[3]

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also noted to the committee that "an embassy in Morocco would increase Australia’s capacity to engage with a significant player in North Africa, including in the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation." The subsequent report of the committee, entitled Australia’s Overseas Representation – Punching below our weight?, observed in its recommendations that "there is merit in opening an embassy in Morocco to serve the Maghreb and notes that this is in DFAT’s plans for an expanded network should it receive sufficient funds."[4] In November 2016, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop visited Morocco for the 2016 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, and announced the opening of an Australian Embassy in Rabat at a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar.[5]

On 12 May 2017, Foreign Minister Julie Bishop announced the establishment of the Australian Embassy in Rabat and Berenice Owen-Jones as the new ambassador (taking up office in June 2017), noting that this appointment would be "an important addition to Australia’s diplomatic presence in Africa and part of the single largest expansion of our diplomatic network in 40 years."[6] The new Australian Embassy in Rabat upgraded an existing Austrade office in the city.[7]

Ambassadors

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# Officeholder Residency Term start date Term end date Time in office Notes
1 Harold David Anderson Paris, France 13 July 1976 (1976-07-13) 6 October 1978 (1978-10-06) 2 years, 85 days [8][2]
2 John Rowland 6 October 1978 (1978-10-06) July 1982 (1982-07) 3–4 years [9][10][11]
3 Peter Curtis July 1982 (1982-07) October 1987 (1987-10) 4–5 years [12][13][14]
4 Ted Pocock October 1987 (1987-10) September 1991 (1991-09) 3–4 years [15]
5 Kim Jones September 1991 (1991-09) August 1993 (1993-08) 1–2 years [16][17]
6 Alan Brown August 1993 (1993-08) October 1996 (1996-10) 2–3 years [18]
7 John Spender October 1996 (1996-10) November 2000 (2000-11) 3–4 years [19]
8 Bill Fisher November 2000 (2000-11) 7 March 2005 (2005-03-07) 4–5 years [20][21]
9 Penny Wensley 7 March 2005 (2005-03-07) March 2008 (2008-03) 2–3 years [22][23]
10 David Ritchie March 2008 (2008-03) December 2011 (2011-12) 2–3 years [24][25]
11 Ric Wells January 2012 (2012-01) October 2014 (2014-10) 2–3 years [26][27]
12 Stephen Brady October 2014 (2014-10) June 2017 (2017-06) 2 years, 243 days [28][29]
13 Berenice Owen-Jones Rabat, Morocco June 2017 (2017-06) October 2020 (2020-10) 3 years, 122 days [6][30][31][32][33]
14 Michael Cutts October 2020 (2020-10) incumbent 4 years, 52 days [34][35]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Diplomatic Relations With Morocco" (News Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs - Hon. Andrew Peacock M.P. Parlinfo: Australian Government. 13 July 1976. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 49 (10). Department of Foreign Affairs: 52. January 1977. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  3. ^ "MAEL-AININ, His Excellency Mr Mohamed, Moroccan Ambassador – Australia's overseas representation" (Hansard). Parliamentary Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. Parliament of Australia. 17 February 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  4. ^ "Inquiry into Australia's Overseas Representation". House of Representatives Committees > Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. Parliament of Australia. 29 October 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  5. ^ "COP22: Australia To Open Embassy in Morocco To Foster Partnership". The North Africa Post. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  6. ^ a b Bishop, Julie (12 May 2017). "Ambassador to Morocco". Minister for Foreign Affairs. Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original (Media Release) on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2017.
  7. ^ "Austrade's office in Morocco". Austrade offices. Australian Trade Commission. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  8. ^ "Diplomatic relations with Morocco identifier". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 47 (7). Department of Foreign Affairs: 396. July 1976. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  9. ^ "Appointment of Ambassador to Morocco" (News Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs - Rt. Hon. Ian Sinclair M.P. Parlinfo: Australian Government. 6 October 1978. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Ambassador". The Canberra Times. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. 7 October 1978. p. 3. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 52 (2). Department of Foreign Affairs: 96. February 1981. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia (Trove).
  12. ^ Street, Tony (13 July 1982). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to France" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  13. ^ Campbell, Duncan (9 November 2013). "Skilled diplomat made the world his home". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
  14. ^ "Australian Representation Overseas". Australian Foreign Affairs Record. 57 (4). National Library of Australia (Trove): Department of Foreign Affairs: 364. April 1986. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  15. ^ Hayden, Bill (24 August 1987). "Diplomatic appointment - France" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  16. ^ "New ambassador". The Canberra Times. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. 31 May 1991. p. 14. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ Evans, Gareth (30 May 1991). "Diplomatic Appointment - France" (Media Release). Minister for Foreign Affairs, Australian Government. Retrieved 4 December 2022 – via ParlInfo.
  18. ^ Barker, Geoffrey (23 June 1995). "Envoy likely to be recalled in protest". The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  19. ^ Downer, Alexander (19 July 1996). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to France" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014.
  20. ^ Downer, Alexander (18 August 2000). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the French Republic" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 22 February 2015.
  21. ^ "Mr William Fisher - Ambassador to France". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 5 December 2004. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  22. ^ Downer, Alexander (14 January 2005). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the French Republic" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  23. ^ "Ms Penny Wensley - Ambassador to France". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 6 February 2005. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  24. ^ Smith, Stephen (10 January 2008). "Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador to France" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  25. ^ "Mr David A. Ritchie - Ambassador to France". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 21 August 2008. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  26. ^ Rudd, Kevin (23 May 2011). "Diplomatic Appointment – Ambassador to France" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014.
  27. ^ "Mr Ric Wells - Ambassador to France". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 24 May 2013. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  28. ^ Bishop, Julie (31 March 2014). "Ambassador to France" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014.
  29. ^ "Ambassador to France - Mr Stephen Brady CVO". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  30. ^ "Ambassador to Morocco - Ms Berenice Owen-Jones". Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Archived from the original on 14 November 2017. Retrieved 4 December 2022.
  31. ^ Wang, Isabella (30 September 2018). "Ambassador Owen-Jones: Pioneer of Australian-Moroccan Relations". Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  32. ^ "APPOINTMENT OF AUSTRALIA'S FIRST RESIDENT AMBASSADOR TO THE KINGDOM OF MOROCCO". Embassy of Morocco Australia-New zealand-Pacific States. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  33. ^ "Ambassador Owen-Jones: Pioneer of Australian-Moroccan Relations". Morocco World News. 30 September 2018. Retrieved 10 July 2022.
  34. ^ Payne, Marise (4 September 2020). "Ambassador to Morocco". Australian Government. Archived from the original (Media Release) on 1 December 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  35. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa (6 November 2020). "Australian Ambassador to Morocco Michael Cutts Begins Mission". Morocco World News. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
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