FED: Alston tipped for plum London posting: report

AAP General News (Australia)
12-01-2004
FED: Alston tipped for plum London posting: report

MELBOURNE, Dec 1 AAP - Former Howard government minister Richard Alston is the hot
favourite to become Australia's next high commissioner to London.

The 62-year-old retired from politics this year after 18 years as a Victorian senator
and nearly eight years as communications minister.

If appointed, he would become the 17th Liberal politician or Howard government adviser
to receive a diplomatic posting since 1996, The Age newspaper reported.

Mr Alston is expected to take over the position in the first half of next year after
the current high commissioner, Michael L'Estrange, returns from London, the newspaper
reports.

Mr L'Estrange, who headed the cabinet policy unit from 1996 to 2000 and is a close
confidant of Prime Minister John Howard, is expected to take over as head of the Department
of Foreign Affairs and Trade early next year.

A government adviser told the newspaper that Mr Alston's appointment was yet to be
confirmed, but that he was the government's preferred choice.

Another government adviser reportedly said that Mr Alston was "virtually guaranteed,
provided of course that Richard and Megs (Mr Alston's wife) really want the job."

AAP mj/cmc

KEYWORD: ALSTON

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