Les Johnson (diplomat)

Sir Leslie Wilson "Les" Johnson CBE (2 April 1916 – 31 August 2000) was an Australian public servant and diplomat.[1][2]

Sir Les Johnson CBE
Born
Leslie Wilson Johnson

(1916-04-02)2 April 1916
Tambellup, Western Australia
Died31 August 2000(2000-08-31) (aged 84)
Sydney, New South Wales
NationalityAustralian
OccupationPublic servant, diplomat
Spouse(s)
Dulcie
​
​
(m. 1940; died 1999)​

Johnson first went to Papua New Guinea in 1962.[3]

From 1966 to 1969 Johnson was Assistant Administrator in Papua New Guinea. He resigned in 1969 after internal differences with colleagues, before being appointed Administrator of Papua New Guinea in 1970.[4] His task was to develop a colonial Administrator's council into a cabinet in preparation for Papua New Guinea's independence.[5]

On 2 December 1973, after 60 years of Papua New Guinea being a territory of Australia, Johnson's role changed from the Administrator of Papua New Guinea to the Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea.[6] Johnson left Papua New Guinea in March 1974,[7] to take up a post as the head of the new Australian Development Assistance Agency.[8] The agency was set up in recognition of the need for stronger policy direction and coordination, along with Papua New Guinea achieving independence.[9] In the mid 1970s, two-thirds of Australian total overseas aid was sent to Papua New Guinea.[10]

From June 1976 to 1980, Johnson was Australian Ambassador to Greece.[11]

In the 1976 Queen's Birthday Honours, Johnson was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his distinguished services to Papua New Guinea.[12] In the Papua New Guinea 2000 Queen's Birthday Honours he was made a Knight Commander of The Order of the British Empire.

Johnson died on 31 August 2000.[1]

References
  1. Farquharson, John, "Johnson, Sir Leslie Wilson (Les) (1916–2000)", Obituaries Australia, Australian National University, archived from the original on 4 April 2015
  2. "PNG post". The Canberra Times. ACT. 7 November 1973. p. 3.
  3. Davidson, Gay (31 October 1973). "Dual role likely". The Canberra Times. pp. 1, 3.
  4. Juddery, Bruce (6 May 1970). "Changes at the top in public service". The Canberra Times. p. 1.
  5. Juddery, Bruce (11 July 1970). "Warm welcome awaits new chief". The Canberra Times. p. 10.
  6. "Council to be sworn in". The Canberra Times. 1 December 1973. p. 7.
  7. "Farewelled". The Canberra Times. 21 March 1974. p. 3.
  8. "Last Administrator". The Canberra Times. 12 March 1974. p. 9.
  9. Australian Bureau of Statistics (25 January 2001), "A Short History of Australian Aid", Year Book Australia, 2001, Australian Government, archived from the original on 8 August 2009
  10. "PS problems in PNG 'to increase'". The Canberra Times. 19 March 1974. p. 9.
  11. "Ambassador". The Canberra Times. 12 April 1976. p. 3.
  12. Advanced Search: JOHNSON, Leslie Wilson, The Order of the British Empire - Commander (Civil), Australian Government, retrieved 10 September 2016
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
Himself
as Administrator		 Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea
1973–1974		 Succeeded by
Tom Critchley
Preceded by
Donald Horne		 Australian Ambassador to Greece
Australian High Commissioner to Cyprus
1976–1980		 Succeeded by
Marshall Johnston
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