{"record":{"aliases":[],"appointmentIds":["australia-c8eaa1b5faddbf"],"appointmentsDataset":"https://chanceries.org/diplomats.json","archivalSources":[],"canonicalUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/michael-thawley-3e021f1b8d/","countrySlug":"australia","entityId":"https://chanceries.org/diplopedia/people/michael-thawley-3e021f1b8d/#person","eventIds":[],"expandedParagraphs":["Michael Thawley entered public service in 1972, working in Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Office of National Assessments, with postings in Rome, Moscow, and Tokyo. He headed the international division of the prime minister's department under Paul Keating and advised John Howard on international affairs from 1996 to 1999.","As ambassador in Washington from 2000 to 2005, Thawley helped secure the Australia–United States Free Trade Agreement. He also worked on American legislation providing visas for Australian professionals.","Thawley joined the investment management group Capital Group after his posting. In 2014, the government appointed him secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet."],"id":"australia:michael-thawley","identifiers":{},"legacyPersonIds":[],"legacyUrl":"https://chanceries.org/diplomat-3e021f1b8d388b0833cc.html","name":"Michael Thawley","notes":[],"paragraphSources":[["ussc"],["ussc","pmc"],["ussc","pmc"]],"profileUrl":"diplomat-3e021f1b8d388b0833cc.html","relatedEvents":[{"basis":"tenure-overlap","country":"Australia","date":"2001-09-12","description":"In the residence garden, John Howard addresses the press after the September 11 attacks. Australia formally invokes the ANZUS treaty two days later.","id":"australia-2001","note":"Named people and the recorded mission tenure provide the connection; overlap does not establish personal participation.","sourceUrls":["https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=106166"],"title":"Solidarity from White Oaks","url":"Australia.html#history-australia-2001"}],"relatedPeople":[],"relationships":[],"researchStatus":"reviewed","reviewedOn":"2026-10-28","revision":"7441a2611a9204ef","sources":[{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":null,"id":"ussc","locator":"Biographical text inspected","publisher":"United States Studies Centre","title":"Ambassador Michael Thawley","type":"official-biography","url":"https://www.ussc.edu.au/michael-thawley"},{"accessedOn":"2026-10-28","date":"2014-10-30","id":"pmc","locator":"Tony Abbott appointment announcement","publisher":"Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet","title":"Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet","type":"primary-record","url":"https://pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au/release/transcript-23922"},{"accessedOn":"","date":"2026-10-25","id":"mission-cfad1ec2f60743525404","locator":"Commonwealth heritage record: construction from 1923, extension 1926, rented 1940, purchased 1941 with adjacent lots; historical roster and reception history. CC BY 3.0 AU. Some roster end years require later corrections.","publisher":"","title":"Australian Heritage Database — White Oaks","type":"Mission record","url":"https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;place_id=106166"}],"topics":["free trade agreement","professional visas","public administration"]},"schemaVersion":1}