The Australian Ambassador to the Holy See was first appointed in 1973[1] It has been attached to the office of the Ambassador to the Netherlands, Denmark, Turkey, Ireland, Malta, Sweden and Switzerland, before Tim Fischer was appointed as the first permanent resident ambassador to the Holy See in 2008.[1] In 1986, Peter Lawler had been appointed resident ambassador for four months prior to Pope John Paul II's visit to Australia.[2]
Ambassador | Start of Term | End of Term | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Lloyd Thomson | 1973 | 1974 | Ambassador to the Netherlands and Denmark.[3] |
John McMillan | 1974 | 1978 | Ambassador to Turkey and later High Commissioner to Malta.[4] |
John Mitchell Kirtley | 1978 | 1979 | Chargé d'affaires |
Brian Clarence Hill | 1979 | 1980 | |
Lloyd Thomson | 1980 | 1983 | Second appointment.[5] |
Peter Lawler | 1983 | 1986 | Ambassador to Ireland. Resident ambassador for four months prior to Pope John Paul II's visit to Australia.[2] |
Christopher Stephen Knott | 1986 | 1987 | Chargé d'affaires |
Francis Milne[6] | 1987 | 1988 | |
Brian Burke | 1988 | 1991 | Ambassador to Ireland. Recalled in 1991 to face a royal commission and was eventually jailed.[7] |
Terence McCarthy[8] | 1991 | 1993 | |
Michael Tate | 1993 | 1996 | Ambassador to the Netherlands |
Edward Stevens | 1996 | 1998 | Ambassador to Ireland[9] |
Bob Halverson | 1998 | 2003 | Ambassador to Ireland |
John Herron | 2003 | 2006 | Ambassador to Ireland |
Anne Plunkett | 2006 | 2008 | Ambassador to Ireland |
Tim Fischer | 2008 | - | First permanent resident ambassador[1] |