PM Transcripts

FOR PRESS: PM No. 33/ 1971
NEW HIGH COMMISSIONER TO NEW ZEALAND
The Prime Minister, The Rt. Hon. William McMahon, today
announced the appointment of Senator the Honourable Dame Annabelle
Rankin D. B. E. as the new Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Mr. McMahon said " As Foreign Minister, I had had discussions
with Dame Annabelle about the possibility of her accepting a diplomatic
appointment. She then informed me that she would be interested in a diplomatic
post should a suitable one become vacant.
Dame Annabelle and I have again discussed the appointment and we
have agreed that she should become the Australian High Commissioner in
Wellington. I have already discussed the appointment with the New Zealand
Prime Minister, Sir Keith Holycake who welcomes the appointment of a
member of the Ministry as High Commissioner.
Dame Annabelle will be the first Australian woman to be appointed
as Head of an Australian Diplomatic Mission.
She will succeed Sir Edwin Hicks, formerly Secretary of the Defence
Department whose three year term as High Commissioner expired on 1st March."
Mr. McMahon paid warm tribute to Dame Annabelle's distinguished
Parliamentary career both as a Senator and a Minister. She was the first
Queensland woman to enter the Federal Parliament. She had been a Senator
since 1946 and a Minister since 1966.
Mr. McMahon said " I know she will make a unique contribution to
the very friendly relations that exist between our two countries".
CA NBERRA
18 March 1971