The politics of “non-political” appointments

Written by: Nick G. on 26 January 2026

 

(Above: Hamilton Secondary College Space Academy students.  Source: www.hamcoll.sa.edu.au/space-school/)

Two recent selections of people to fill significant roles reflect the continuing subservience of the Australian ruling class to the needs of the US empire.

Yesterday, PM Albanese chose the ABC’s Insiders program to announce his choice of Defence Department Secretary Greg Moriarty as the new Australian Ambassador to the US.

The announcement was welcomed by the media and by the Liberal Opposition. 

Albanese let it be known that he had consulted with the US over the appointment.

Typical of media comments was The Conversation: "The highly-respected senior bureaucrat is a safe choice, and his defence background gives him special qualifications for the post when the further development of AUKUS will be a major preoccupation in coming years."

But not everyone was throwing bouquets.  Many in the Defence community have been critical of the Department’s secrecy, its lack of accountability and its poor performance in procurement, making sometimes erratic decisions that have wasted millions of dollars.

Former Senator and submariner Rex Patrick wrote, “I’m trying to recall Secretary Greg Moriarty’s finest hour. Was it signing the $45B (up from $35B) contract for 9 Hunter Class frigates (downgraded to 6 frigates for the same $45B) OR his judgement in hiring #RoboDebt’s Kathryn Campbell for $900K p/a?”

Moriarty is a career public servant and diplomat, but he has worked directly for the US in the past. He served in the headquarters of the United States Central Command in the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. No doubt that will endear him to the Orange Idiot.

The other announcement was the selection of Katherine Bennell-Pegg, the astronaut in waiting and obviously a highly qualified scientist, as the Australian of the Year.  She was selected by the National Australia Day Council, a not-for-profit Australian Government-owned social enterprise.

Bennell-Pegg’s selection is part of the preparations for embedding Australia more compliantly in the US race to achieve military superiority in the Space Domain. She will propagandise about the magic of being an astronaut, and engage schools and students in Space-related STEM studies and the military will scoop up the “best and brightest”.

She will no doubt encourage other Australian States to follow the SA example of declaring a working class high school to transform into a “Secondary College” with a attached “Space Academy”. 

Despite the UN Outer Space Treaty (1967)  and various updates as recently as Dec 2023.  Space is the new military frontier and all the imperialist powers are racing to gain space warfare advantage.  We wrote about this, and Australia’s role, last November.

Bennell-Pegg is perfect for the role. She is on the Australian-American Leadership Dialogue private diplomatic initiative.

It was set up in 1992 and is the only non-USA NGO to be invited to a private briefing in the White House. Geroge Bush in 1992 was keen on it and every US President since has embraced it apparently,

Companies in this leadership dialogue include Raytheon, BHP, Lockhead Martin, Microsoft and Thales. The Australian Government is on it too.

Both selections will probably be praised as “non-political”.

Nothing could be further from the truth. 

 

 

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