Today I announce the appointment of Mr Michael Hoy as Australia's next High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam.
Australia and Brunei Darussalam enjoy a warm and longstanding relationship focused on defence, trade and education, and regional cooperation in ASEAN-led forums. In 2024, Australia and Brunei Darussalam celebrated 40 years of diplomatic relations.
In 2023, Australia and Brunei Darussalam elevated our bilateral relationship to a Comprehensive Partnership and committed to enhancing cooperation in a range of areas including climate change, food security, maritime and cyber affairs.
Our economies continue to benefit from closer ties, including in priority areas identified in Invested: Australia's Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040. Australia was Brunei Darussalam's largest export market in 2023.
Mr Hoy is a career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and was most recently Senior Adviser, Quad, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
He has previously served overseas in Japan, Belgium, Afghanistan, Vietnam and at Australia's Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York.
I thank outgoing High Commissioner Luke Arnold for his contributions to advancing Australia's interests in Brunei since 2022.
