Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty replaces Kevin Rudd as Australia's US ambassador
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Department of Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty will replace Kevin Rudd as Australia’s next ambassador to the United States, the government has announced.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that the Albanese Government intends to propose Mr. Greg Moriarty AO for the role of Australia’s new Ambassador to the United States of America. This recommendation will be presented to the Governor-General.

Albanese highlighted Moriarty’s exceptional qualifications, stating that his extensive experience makes him ideally suited to advance the Australia-US alliance.

Secretary of the Department of Defence Greg Moriarty during an estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday 6 November 2024. fedpol Photo: Alex Ellinghausen (Alex Ellinghausen)

With a distinguished career in international policy, Moriarty has held significant positions, including serving as the Secretary of the Department of Defence from 2017 onwards, which underscores his unmatched expertise.

Throughout his career, Moriarty has gained substantial diplomatic experience, notably as Australia’s ambassador to Indonesia between 2010 and 2014, and to Iran from 2005 to 2008.

Albanese further noted Moriarty’s influential roles in the Office of the Prime Minister, where he served as the International and National Security Adviser, and subsequently as Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

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

Kevin Rudd addresses technology and innovation event in Seattle in 2025 (Alex Ellinghausen/Nine)
Rudd stepped down from his ambassadorial role a year earlier than expected. (Alex Ellinghausen/Nine)

During his time in the defence department, Moriarty oversaw “an historic increase” in the Defence budget, Albanese said.

“He has also led the Department working with counterparts in the United States and the United Kingdom in the development and implementation of AUKUS,” he said.

“We again thank the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC for his service.”

That included an awkward encounter with Donald Trump in October, who claimed he didn’t like Rudd and “probably never will” after historic social media posts criticising the president as a “traitor to the West” recirculated.

Rudd said he would remain in the US to take up a role as president and chief executive of the Asia Society think tank.

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