Today I announce the appointment of Dr Greg French as Australia's next Ambassador to the Netherlands.
The Netherlands is one of Australia's closest European partners.
Australia and the Netherlands work together to support a world which is stable, peaceful, prosperous, and respectful of sovereignty, including in the Indo-Pacific.
We cooperate closely on international security issues and weclome the role the Netherlands is playing in support of accountability for the recent developments in Ukraine.
We also deeply appreciate the Netherlands' leadership throughout the joint investigation into the downing of Flight MH17, and our cooperation to hold those responsible to account.
The Netherlands is home to the International Court of Justice, the International Criminal Court and Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, all are key to promoting and protecting the international rules-based order.
The Netherlands is Australia's fifth-largest source of direct foreign investment and our second largest export market in Europe.
We are working with the Netherlands and other European Union (EU) member states to conclude an ambitious and comprehensive trade agreement between Australia and the EU as soon as possible.
Dr French is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently seconded to the Department of Defence as Senior Legal and Non-Proliferation Adviser, Nuclear Powered Submarine Taskforce.
He has previously served overseas as Australia's Ambassador to Italy and Australia's High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, as well as in Germany.
I thank former Ambassador Matthew Neuhaus and interim Head of Mission Julie Heckscher for their contributions to advancing Australia's interests in the Netherlands.
