Today I announce the appointment of Mr Allaster Cox as Australia's next High Commissioner to Singapore.
Australia's relationship with Singapore is one of our closest and most comprehensive, and is anchored in our shared strategic and economic interests.
Our ties with Singapore are underpinned by a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership covering trade, defence, the green economy, science and innovation, the digital economy, education and the arts.
Australia and Singapore are close defence and security partners. Together, we have long contributed to regional security, including through the Five Power Defence Arrangements and the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting-Plus framework.
Our two countries also share deep economic links. Singapore is Australia's fifth largest trading partner and seventh largest source of foreign direct investment.
Mr Cox is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently First Assistant Secretary, Southeast Asia Strategy and Development Division.
He has previously served overseas as Ambassador to Vietnam, High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam and as Deputy Head of Mission in Indonesia and Malaysia.
I thank former High Commissioner the Hon Will Hodgman for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Singapore since 2021.
