Celebrating 80 Years of Australia-New Caledonia Relations
On 6 August 1940, Australia established its fourth diplomatic posting in the world, now known as the Australian-Consulate General in Nouméa, New Caledonia. This followed the opening of the Australian High Commission in London in 1910, the Australian High Commission in Ottawa in 1939 and the Australian Embassy in Washington in 1940.
Bertram Ballard was sent to New Caledonia from Australia as the Official Representative of the Commonwealth Government in Nouméa, responsible for the "full power and authority on behalf of the Commonwealth Government to conduct discussions and/or to agree and conclude with the administration of New Caledonia any matters or agreements that may tend to the attainment of co-operation in 'the struggle against the Berlin-Rome Axis at the side of Great Britain' and to sign for an on behalf of the Commonwealth Government everything so agreed upon and concluded." It is believed that the posting also allowed Australia to gain insights into the views of the French Government, which was pro Vichy-French at the time.
By the end of the war, the Official Representative's Office became a Consulate and Harold Stuart Barnett was named as the first Consul on 18 December 1945. From 1945 until 1980, it was a Consulate, before becoming a Consulate-General.
In 1987, the Australian Consul-General, John Dauth, was declared "persona non grata" by the French Government and recalled back to Australia. The Minister for Overseas Departments and Territories from the French Government, Bernard Pons, claimed that he had supported extremist members of political groups. The then Australian Foreign Minister, Bill Hayden, strongly rejected these accusations and submitted an official protest to the French representative in Canberra. Minister Hayden said that Mr Dauth's actions had done no more than "the Australian Government expects of any government official representing its interests overseas". France then suspended contact with Australian ministerial leaders due to Australia's support for the United Nations to place New Caledonia back on the list of Non-Self Governing Territories. The decision by the French Government was criticised by governments from Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu.
Fast forward 80 years and we come to 2020. This year marks the 80th anniversary of relations between the Australia and New Caledonia. New Caledonia is currently going through the process of autonomy, consistent with the 1998 Nouméa Accord. The second referendum on independence is scheduled for 4 October 2020.
Australia's relations with New Caledonia encompass various initiatives across regional security, people-to-people links and environmental protection. The strengthening of relations is highlighted by the recent ministerial and government visits.
Australia's Foreign Minister, Senator Marise Payne, travelled to Nouméa in June 2019 for the 11th Ministerial Conference of the Pacific Community (SPC). In 2019 at the 50th Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting, the Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison and President of the New Caledonian Government Thierry Santa met together for the first time. As well as this, in 2019, the Embassy of France in Canberra created the role of Official Representative of New Caledonia to Australia. President of the South Province of New Caledonia, Sonia Backes, visited Australia in 2019. This year, Christopher Gygès from the New Caledonia Government also travelled to Australia, along with various other leaders from the region. Furthermore, defense cooperation will be strengthened thanks to the installation in New Caledonia of an Australian Defense Force liaison officer who will manage relations at the operational level between the Australian Defense Force and the Army Forces of New Caledonia, as expressed by Alison Carrington, Consul General of Australia in New Caledonia.
Sources:
https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/new-caledonia/Pages/stepping-up-in-new-caledonia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Consulate-General,_Noumea
https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/marise-payne/media-release/visit-new-caledonia