Honorary Ambassador of Vishwamitra in Australia
| Honorary Ambassador of Vishwamitra in Australia | |
|---|---|
| ऑस्ट्रेलिया में विश्वामित्र के मानद राजदूत | |
 | |
| Ministry of External Affairs | |
| Style | His/Her Excellency (international correspondence) |
| Nominator | Minister of External Affairs |
| Appointer | Rashtradhyaksh (as Chief Ambassador) |
| Term length | On the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh |
| Inaugural holder | Zechariah O'Hair |
| Formation | 29 December 2020 |
The Honorary Ambassador of Vishwamitra in the Commonwealth of Australia (Hindi: ऑस्ट्रेलिया में विश्वामित्र के मानद राजदूत) is an officer of the honorary diplomatic corps of Vishwamitra who serves as the head of the honorary diplomatic mission of Vishwamitra in the Commonwealth of Australia. The diplomat holds the rank of an Honorary Ambassador who is appointed by the Rashtradhyaksh and remains in office at the pleasure of the Rashtradhyaksh and during their tenure in office, they represent the crown and the government of Vishwamitra in Australia and is responsible to cater the interests of the non-residential (overseas) citizens of Vishwamitra residing in Australia or are of Australian origin.
As the recognition of Australia by Vishwamitra is not reciprocated and not bilateral, Vishwamitra maintains an honorary embassy in the country as compared to a full-fledged mission which are, in contrary, only accredited to mutually recognized nations (the micronations).
History
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The position of the ambassador was first created on 29 December 2020 along with the creation of a full-fledged mission located in Sydney. The first ambassador was Zechariah O'Hair who served in office until his resignation in October 2022. Following his resignation, then Consul-General in Queensland Rory Leonard was appointed as the ambassador and the embassy was moved to Mackay in Queensland state.
In a cabinet decision, the regular diplomatic missions accredited to macronations which are unilaterally recognized by Vishwamitra were reorganized to honorary status on 8 May 2023. Thereupon, the status of the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Australia was changed to the position of that of an Honorary Ambassador. Rory Leonard continued to serve as honorary ambassador in Australia until being replaced on 29 June 2023 by Pio Lowe who has been in office since then.
Responsibilities
The honorary ambassador serves as the principal representative of the crown of Vishwamitra and the government in Australia and is responsible to cater the interests of the non-residential (overseas) citizens of Vishwamitra residing in Australia or are of Australian origin. The ambassador is also responsible to present the policies of the government of Vishwamitra to the citizens and report the policies of the Australian government to the Vishwamitran government and the crown. The ambassador also oversees the diplomatic activity and is often responsible for overseeing the trade and cultural relations between Vishwamitra and Australia.
The honorary ambassador is also assisted by a team of junior diplomats who are titled as honorary consuls-general and honorary consuls. The honorary consuls are appointed to the various states and territories of Australia. They represent the crown and government of Vishwamitra only at the jurisdictional level while the ambassador is responsible for the affairs in the whole nation.
- Honorary Consul in Queensland: Kevin Doan, since 29 June 2023
- Honorary Consul in Victoria: Daniel Racovolis, since 24 September 2023
List of ambassadors
The first ambassador in office was Zechariah O'Hair who served between December 2020 and October 2022. The current ambassador is Pio Lowe who was appointed on 29 June 2023.
| No. | Portrait | Name (born-died) |
Tenure | Appointer | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Term began | Term end | Term length | |||||
| Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Commonwealth of Australia | |||||||
| 1 | Zechariah O'Hair (born 2000) |
29 December 2020 |
11 October 2022 |
1 year, 286 days | Varuna Sriraya (Rashtradhyaksh) |
Appointed as the inaugural ambassador upon the creation of the mission in December 2020. Tenure marked by inactivity towards the end which culminated in his resignation in August 2022. The resignation was formally recognized in October 2022. | |
| 2 | 
|
Lieutenant General Tan Sri Dato Sri Utama Rory Leonard (born 2007) |
11 October 2022 |
8 May 2023 |
209 days | Former Deputy Prime Minister. Consul-General in Mackay, Queensland prior to his appointment as the Ambassador. Appointed to serve as the second office-holder upon the resignation of Zechariah O'Hair on 11 October 2022. Continued to serve in office upon the changes to the status of the office in May 2023. | |
| Honorary Ambassador in the Commonwealth of Australia | |||||||
| (2) |
|
Lieutenant General Tan Sri Dato Sri Utama Rory Leonard (born 2007) |
8 May 2023 |
29 June 2023 |
52 days | Varuna Sriraya (Rashtradhyaksh) |
Appointed as the first honorary ambassador in Australia upon the initiation of changes to the position in May 2023. Served in office until falling with the Rashtradhyaksh and the government, ultimately leading to his dismissal from office in June 2023. |
| 3 | Pio Lowe (born 2005) |
29 June 2023 |
Incumbent | 304 days | Noted diplomat and President of New Rubix Republic. Appointed as the third office-holder and the second honorary ambassador in Vishwamitra on 29 June 2023 to succeed Rory Leonard who was earlier dismissed from office. Currently serving in office. | ||