Australia could expect US President Joe Biden to send a "high-quality" ambassador to Canberra to represent his government, the last person picked for the role in the Obama administration has said.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Ambassador John Berry, who served in the post between 2013 and 2016, said Australia would not face a two-year wait for the appointment, like it did with the Trump administration.
"The ambassador to Australia is going to be seen as very important position," Mr Berry told Australian Community Media from his home in New York.
"I can say that it's already under consideration."
It won't just be the ambassador that influences how Australia is seen in the Oval Office. Mr Biden has appointed to people with long-time interest in the Australian relationship and the Indo-Pacific to key roles in the White House, including deputy chief of staff Bruce Reed and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.
Another key name for Australia was Kurt Campbell, the architect of the Pivot to Asia from the Obama administration. Mr Berry said Mr Campbell had a keen interest in Australia. Mr Campbell will be coordinator for the Indo-Pacific at the NSC.
"Kurt hasn't gotten less bold," Mr Berry said.
"It will be a pivot to the power of three. Those three people are within yards of the Oval Office."
Australia could expect the US would not leave it to face the brunt of China's hostility alone, as America's attention would be very focused on the region. But it would be more discreet, more careful, principled leadership and engagement from the US in the Indo-Pacific, Mr Berry said.
"People recognise that you guys have been on the receiving end of the Chinese bully," Mr Berry said.
"President Biden, everything in his character down to the bottom of soul, does not like a bully. He will not put up with it."
US was also looking to expand the Quad - Australia, India, Japan and the US - to include more allies, such as South Korea, as it reinforced its alliance network along with multilateral work.
As for what Australia could expect in business and policy opportunities with the US, Mr Berry said there were five growth areas coming in the Biden administration, adding to the existing $1.5 trillion investment between the two countries.
With climate action a top priority of the new administration, the US would be looking to Australia for innovations to support zero-emission vehicles.
"Australia being an amazingly innovative country, not only will you have many opportunities in the rare earth supply chain, but in innovation on technologies that can make batteries more efficient," Mr Berry said.
Medical innovations, the advancing of the space industry, infrastructure and innovation partners would also be priority areas of the Biden administration, Mr Berry said, especially once the coronavirus was under control.
"My prediction is we will go over the $2 trillion mark before long," Mr Berry said.
Harley Dennett
Former federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC. Telling the stories of my local LGBTI community brought me to political journalism, where I've covered eight budgets, four national elections in two countries, Defence, public service and international governance.
Former federal politics bureau chief for the Canberra Times, via a career that's taken me from rural Victoria to Washington DC. Telling the stories of my local LGBTI community brought me to political journalism, where I've covered eight budgets, four national elections in two countries, Defence, public service and international governance.
