.),, AUSTHALIA
PRIME MINISTER 23 August 1974
PRESS STATEMENT NO. 309
APPOINTMENTS APPROVED BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
The Prime Minister announced today the appointment
of Sir John Bunting, at present the Secretary to the Department
of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as High Commissioner for
Australia in the United Kingdom as from 1 February 1975. The
two-year term of the present High Commissioner, the Hon.
J. I. Armstrong, which expires on 14 December 1974, has been
extended to 31 January 1975.
Mr Whitlam announced that Mr J. L. Menadue, who
is at present a senior executive of the News Limited group of
companies, will succeed Sir John Bunting as Permanent Head of
the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet on
1 February 1975. The Prime Minister said that Sir John Bunting
will be the first non-political High Commissioner to the
United Kingdom. His association and standing with the
Queen's Household, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the British
Civil Service make his appointment especially suitable and
significant. In addition, his long experience as a Departmental
Head and as Secretary to Cabinet will be important qualities
in the office of High Commissioner and the administration of
Australia House. Australia House had been administered by
the Prime Minister' 3 Department until last year, when it was
transferred to the Department of Foreign Affairs. In 1959 the
previous Secretary of the Prime Minister's Department,
Sir Allen Brown, was appointed by Sir Robert Menzies as
Deputy High Commissioner in London.
The Prime Minister said that Sir John was appointed
Head of the Prime Minister's Department in 1959 when he was
years of age and that he is one of the most distinguished
public servants Australia has known. His loyalty, integrity
diligence and dedication have made him a leader and example
among all public servants. He said that his Government was
indebted to Sir John for his untiring assistance at the time of
the change of government in 1972 and in many of the initiatives
subsequently taken by the Government.
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The Prime Minister paid a tribute to
Mr John Armstrong's service as High Commissioner in London.
It has crowned a long and distinguished public career. He
has represented Australia with much success and personal credit.
The Prime Minister said it was also a decision
of the Government that the consequential vacancy in the position
of Secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
would, on this occasion, be filled by a senior executive from
the private sector. Mr Menadue is now 39 years old. After
graduating from the University of Adelaide, he joined the
Bureau of Statistics in 1957 and transferred to the Treasury
in 1959. He became Mr Whitlam's Private Secretary in 1960.
He left Mr Whitlam's staff in 1967 to join the Murdoch
organisation. He has been a member of the Australian Council
for the Arts since its inception last year.
In order to facilitate a smooth transition in
the Department, the Public Service Board had agreed with the
Government that a position of Secretary Designate should be
created and filled by Mr Menadue, and the Governor-General
had approved the Board's recommendation. Mr Whitlam said that
Mr Menadue will take up his position on 23 September, 1974.
CANBERRA. A. C. T.