The Mission was established in March 1946. Australian support for the
United Nations was led by the then Australian Minister
for External Affairs, Dr H V Evatt, who participated in the setting up of the
organisation. (1)
The first Annual
Session of the United Nations General Assembly was divided
into two parts: the first part met in London from 10 January to 14 February
1946 and the second part met in New York from 23 October to 15 December 1946.
The leader of the Australian delegation in the First Session was Mr N J O
Makin, the Australian Ambassador to Washington from 1946 to 1951. (2)
Functions and
activities
Australia firmly
believes that global problems require global solutions. As the only truly global
organisation, the United Nations plays a critical role in addressing the
challenges that no country can resolve on its own.
The Australian
Mission to the United Nations in New York is one of four posts representing
Australia's interests in the United Nations system. The other posts are in
Geneva, Vienna and Nairobi.
The Mission
serves as the nucleus of the Australian delegation to the regular sessions of
the General Assembly. It also participates in the ongoing work of the UN's
other bodies, such as the Security Council and the Economic and Social Council,
and follows the activities of the UN's funds, programs and specialised
agencies. The Australian Mission to the UN in New York is
made up of staff from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AusAID, the Australian Defence Force and the Australian
Federal Police.
The Mission also
has responsibility for the Commission on the Status of Women, International Seabed
Authority, United Nations Development Program, United Nations International Children’s Fund, and the United Nations Population Fund.
Legislation
administered
Administrative
structure
Heads of Mission:
Mar 1946 : Paul MC Hasluck,
Head of Mission
Sep 1947 : John DL Hood, Minister
(Keith CO Shann (A/g) Head of Mission 22/04/1950)
Sep 1951 : William D Forsyth, OBE (1955), Minister
Jan 1956 : Dr E Ronald Walker, CBE, Amb
Jul 1959 : James (later Sir 1962) Plimsoll, CBE, Amb
Mar 1963 : David O Hay, CBE, DSO, Amb
Jun 1965 : Patrick Shaw, CBE, Amb
Apr 1970 : Sir Laurence McIntyre, CBE, Amb
May 1975 : Ralph L Harry, CBE, Amb
Jul 1978 : H David Anderson, OBE, Amb
Aug 1982 : Richard A Woolcott,
(AO 1985), Amb
Sep 1988 : Michael J Costello, Amb
Mar 1989 : Dr Peter S Wilenski,
AO, Amb
Mar 1992 : Richard W butler, AM, Amb
Sep 1997 : Penelope A Wensley
(AO 2001), Amb
Aug 2001 : John C Dauth,
LVO, Amb
Apr 2006 : Hon Robert M Hill, Amb
Jun
2009 : Gary F Quinlan, Amb.
Historical agency
address
1946-1958 : 4510 Empire State Building, New York
1958-1973 : 750 Third Avenue, New York
1973-1977 : 1 Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, New York
1977- : 885 Second Avenue, New York, NY, 10017
State/regional
structure
Records created by
the agency
Additional
information
End notes
Sources
- The Federal
Guide, years 1946-1959
- Commonwealth Government
Directory, years 1962-1995
- Department of
Foreign Affairs and Trade (ND). Australian Permanent Mission
to the United Nations, New York. Retrieved 6 January
2012 from http://www.unny.mission.gov.au/unny/home.html.
References:
1.
Who's Who in Australia, 1962 p. 282.
2. Official year
Book of the Commonwealth of Australia No. 37, 1946-47 p. xxxviii