List of ambassadors of Australia to Italy
The ambassador of Australia to Italy is an officer of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the head of the Embassy of the Commonwealth of Australia to the Republic of Italy in Rome.[2] The position has the rank and status of an ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary and holds non-resident accreditation for Albania (1992–2004; since 3 July 2013), Libya (1978–1987; since 2002), and San Marino (since 1995).The ambassador also serves as Australia's delegate to the UN Agencies in Rome as permanent representative to the Food and Agriculture Organization (since 1951) and as representative to the World Food Programme (since 1961).Australia and Italy have enjoyed diplomatic relations since November 1949, when a legation was established in Rome and the first Minister, Cedric Kellway presented his credentials to President Luigi Einaudi on 24 November 1949.[3] On 4 January 1978 Australia established diplomatic relations with the Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, but relations were cut by Prime Minister Bob Hawke in May 1987 owing to the Gaddafi regime's "covert operations in the South Pacific".