Overview
- Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles announced Kathy Klugman will become director-general of the Office of National Intelligence with a December handover, following approval by the governor-general.
- Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Andrew Shearer will be put forward as Australia’s next ambassador to Japan, a nomination that requires Japan’s agreement.
- The ONI Act requires consultation with the opposition leader on the director-general’s appointment, and the Coalition says the approach taken was not meaningful.
- Klugman would be the first woman to lead ONI and previously served as Anthony Albanese’s principal adviser on international affairs and as a senior DFAT official with an Indo‑Pacific focus.
- Coalition figures signal Senate estimates scrutiny and question whether Klugman’s background fits a security leadership role, while noting Labor had criticised Shearer’s 2020 ONI appointment when in opposition.