I have pleasure in announcing the appointment of Mr Kim Jones,
Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT),
as the next Director-General of the Office of National Assessments
(ONA). The appointment will take effect on 15 December 1998.
Before being appointed Deputy Secretary of DFAT, Mr Jones was Ambassador
to France from 1991 to 1993. Among other earlier appointments, Mr
Jones was Deputy Head of Mission in Tokyo, First Assistant Secretary
of the Disarmament, Security and Nuclear Division in DFAT, and Acting
Deputy Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
ONA is responsible for advising the Government on international political,
strategic and economic developments affecting Australia's national
interests. ONA also advises the Government on the adequacy and coordination
of Australia's foreign intelligence activities.
Mr Jones' extensive experience as a manager and his expertise
in international issues qualify him well for his new responsibilities,
and I wish him well as he takes up his new appointment.
I take the opportunity to record my appreciation to the outgoing Director-General
of ONA, Mr Dick Smith. Mr Smith has been Director-General since 1996.
Before becoming head of ONA, Mr Smith had a distinguished career in
the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, having been Ambassador
to the Philippines, High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador
to Thailand, and Ambassador to Israel.
Mr Smith has given long and dedicated service to Australia. I thank
him for that and wish him well for the future.
24 November 1998