Energy Minister Chris Bowen has welcomed the appointment of the United States\u2019 new ambassador to Australia, David Brat, ahead of a key anniversary between Australia and its allies.<\/p>\n
Dr Brat, a former Republican congressman, was confirmed to fill the role of Australian ambassador on Friday afternoon (AEST Saturday) after the role had been left empty for almost two years. <\/p>\n
Addressing the country\u2019s fuel crisis \u2013 sparked by the United States\u2019 and Israel’s February 28 attack on Iran \u2013 Mr Bowen said the government welcomed Mr Brat\u2019s appointment as permanent ambassador.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s important,\u201d the Energy Minister said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was just speaking to Australia\u2019s ambassador to the United States yesterday, the bilateral relationship is of course a deeply important one and we welcome the appointment of the new ambassador.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mr Bowen rebuffed any concern around the almost two-year delay in the appointment of a new ambassador.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s pretty standard. It\u2019s not unusual for an administration to do that, so we welcome his appointment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pressed, he continued: \u201cWell, yeah, it\u2019s \u2013 a big gap is not uncommon. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe US Embassy has been working here very strongly over the last two years with a charge d\u2019affaires, an acting ambassador, and we welcome the appointment of a permanent ambassador.\u201d<\/p>\n
The announcement came before the US government breaks for a five-week summer recess. <\/p>\n
Mr Brat will also be the first new appointment to the position after the former ambassador under President Joe Biden, Caroline Kennedy, left the role in November 2024 when President Trump took office. <\/p>\n
Dr Brat was first elected as a Virginian congressman in 2014 when he defeated the sitting House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in a major political upset. <\/p>\n
He gained popularity through his staunch conservative values and became involved in the Tea Party movement which protested the Obama administration\u2019s intervention in the housing market. <\/p>\n
He was later defeated in 2018 by the current Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger and has since worked as the senior vice president of business relations at Liberty University, an evangelical college in Virginia.<\/p>\n
The new appointment will allow Dr Brat to touch down in Australia ahead of the historic 75th anniversary of the ANZUS treaty between Australia, New Zealand and the US on September 1. <\/p>\n
Mr Brat was confirmed as part of 74 new officials, with new ambassadors also chosen for Cambodia, Cyprus and Brazil. <\/p>\n
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would work with whoever the US nominated for the position and would respect the decision made by the US government. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll work with whoever is determined to be the ambassador,\u201d the prime minister said on April 28. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat is a decision for the United States. I understand that the president will put forward David Brat as ambassador, and there\u2019s a process of confirmation that occurs through the US processes.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe respect the sovereignty of countries to put forward ambassadors, just like we expect our choices to be endorsed.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tensions between the US and Australia were rocked by the US imposing new tariffs on Australia and both countries taking different stances towards the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. <\/p>\n
Mr Trump announced that Australia would be hit with a 12.5 per cent tariff as part of a major disturbance to trade policies agreements in July. <\/p>\n
Countries like China, India, the UK and Canada were also included in the countries expected to be met with tariff increases. <\/p>\n
Mr Albanese has also spoken out against Mr Trump\u2019s stance on the war in the Middle East, calling for a de-escalation to the conflict. <\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think it\u2019s appropriate to use language such as that from the President of the United States. And I think it will cause some concern, which is there,\u201d he said in an interview on News24 on April 8. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve said very clearly that the conduct of any conflict must be within international law and that provides for making sure that civilians \u2013 who aren\u2019t parties to the conflict \u2013 are given every protection possible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Opposition Leader Angus Taylor has backed the decision to appoint Dr Brat when it was first announced in April, and said it would \u201cuphold the spirit of a century-old alliance.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u201cI welcome US President Donald Trump\u2019s nomination of former congressman, David Brat, to serve as America\u2019s next ambassador to Australia,\u201d he wrote in a post to X. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe face of the ambassador may change but the role remains the same \u2026 to develop our collective military strength \u2013 especially through AUKUS \u2013 to deter those who neither value liberty nor respect sovereignty.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Energy Minister Chris Bowen has welcomed the appointment of the United States\u2019 new ambassador to Australia, David 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