Overview
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the appointment on Monday, calling Weatherill an appropriate choice for the London post.
- Weatherill led South Australia from 2011 to 2018 and spent 16 years in the state parliament with a record in defence industry development.
- Albanese said Weatherill is well placed to progress AUKUS, with SSN‑AUKUS submarines planned for construction in Adelaide on a British design.
- The SSN‑AUKUS program envisages Australia’s first vessels in the early 2040s under the trilateral security pact with the UK and US.
- Weatherill will replace Stephen Smith, who has served since January 2023 and was thanked for his leadership, including work supporting Ukraine through the Coalition of the Willing.