Michael Thawley
AO
Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
In office
1 December 2014 – 23 January 2016
18th Ambassador of Australia to
the United States
In office
February 2000 – May 2005
Preceded byAndrew Peacock
Succeeded byDennis Richardson
Personal details
Born
Michael Joseph Thawley

(1950-04-16) 16 April 1950
London, England
NationalityAustralian
Political partyLiberal Party
Alma materAustralian National University
OccupationPublic servant, Diplomat

Michael Joseph Thawley, AO (born 16 April 1950)[1] was a senior Australian public servant. From December 2014 to January 2016 he was Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Life and career

Thawley was born in London[1] in 1950, the son of an Anglican clergyman, raised in Queensland, and educated at Geelong Grammar School and then at the Australian National University.[2][3] He joined the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1972.[4] There he held various posts including Head of the Papua New Guinea and New Zealand bureaus; Head of Current Intelligence at the Office of National Assessments; Minister at the Australian Embassy, Tokyo; Head of the International Division of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He was the International Advisor to Prime Minister John Howard, between 1996 and 1999.[5]

From 2000 to 2005, Michael Thawley was Australian Ambassador to the United States of America.[6] While Thawley was in the role, the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement was established, ensuring greater access to the US market for Australian products.[7] When he left the post, US President George Bush hosted a farewell reception for him in the Oval Office, and dignitaries including US Vice President Dick Cheney, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice attended.[8]

He was a Senior Vice President and International Advisor at Capital Strategy Research Inc.[9] He was also a board member of the Lowy Institute for International Policy.[10]

In October 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Thawley had been appointed Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, commencing 1 December 2014.[11][12][13][14][15] According to media, his brief entering into the role was to concentrate on the Australian Government's economic agenda,[16][17] and to give more structure and form to coordinate the budgetary implications, across all Australian Government departments, of Coalition Government promises and what the Labor Party blocks in Parliament.[18] It was also noted that he could "bring fresh energy to the urgent task of rebuilding relationships between the public service and the political branch."[19] He announced on 24 November 2015 that he would be standing down from the position in January 2016.[20]

Thawley married Deborah Wilkins, an ANU prize winner in French in 1969,[21] in 1970. They have three sons, one of whom is The Hon Justice Thomas Thawley,[22] and five grandchildren.

Awards and honours

Thawley was awarded a Centenary Medal in January 2001 for a significant contribution over many years to international relations.[23] In June 2006 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.[24]

References

  1. 1 2 Richard McGregor, "Washington-bound", Weekend Australian, 11–12 December 1999, p. 24
  2. ↑ Downer, Alexander (5 December 1999). "Diplomatic Appointment: Ambassador to the United States of America" (Press release). Archived from the original on 12 February 2014.
  3. ↑ Nethercote, J.R. (21 November 2014). "Yet more variety at Prime Minister and Cabinet". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015.
  4. ↑ "MEDIA RELEASE". Australian Foreign Minister. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  5. ↑ Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, The Secretary, Australian Government, archived from the original on 26 January 2015
  6. ↑ "Michael Thawley on Australia's relationship with the US", Lateline, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 4 May 2005, archived from the original on 26 January 2015
  7. ↑ Kenny, Mark; Thomson, Phillip (30 October 2014). "Michael Thawley take over sends shudders through public service". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 20 November 2014.
  8. ↑ Gawenda, Michael (4 February 2006). "A former envoy under siege". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015.
  9. ↑ "Michael Thawley, AO". United States Study Centre, University of Sydney. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  10. ↑ "Mr Michael Thawley AO". Lowy Institute for International Policy. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  11. ↑ Abbott, Tony (20 October 2014). "Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015.
  12. ↑ Burton, Tom (31 October 2014). "Thawley returning for PM&C post to 'get good things done'". The Mandarin. Archived from the original on 25 January 2015.
  13. ↑ Thomson, Phillip (30 October 2014). "Michael Thawley appointed new PM&C secretary as Ian Watt resigns". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014.
  14. ↑ Shanahan, Dennis (31 October 2014). "Washington, DC to PM&C: Tony Abbott's new capital guy Michael Thawley". The Australian. News Ltd.
  15. ↑ Kenny, Mark; Thomson, Phillip (30 October 2014). "Michael Thawley take over sends shudders through public service". The Age. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014.
  16. ↑ Hartcher, Peter; Bourke, Latika (1 December 2014). "Anxious Abbott government hoping it will be Thawley to the rescue". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 30 November 2014.
  17. ↑ "Abbott concedes pressures on budget". Sky News. AAP. 1 December 2014. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015.
  18. ↑ Bongiorno, Paul (6 December 2014). "Abbott through the looking-glass". The Saturday Newspaper. Schwartz Media. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015.
  19. ↑ Mulgan, Richard (2 December 2014). "Michael Thawley: the delicate dance awaiting Prime Minister and Cabinet's new secretary". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 26 January 2015.
  20. ↑ Belot, Henry (24 November 2015). "PM and C secretary Michael Thawley resigns in public service shake up". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 24 November 2015.
  21. ↑ ANU Annual Report 1969, p. 25
  22. ↑ Bar News - The Journal of the New South Wales Bar Association, March 2018, p. 88
  23. ↑ "Search Australian Honours: THAWLEY, Michael Joseph, Centenary Medal", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 26 January 2015
  24. ↑ "Search Australian Honours: THAWLEY, Michael Joseph, Officer of the Order of Australia", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 1 February 2021
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