Paul O'Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Paul Thomas O'Sullivan, AO
(b. Sydney
, 1948) is Australia's High Commissioner to New Zealand and former Director-General of Security
. Prior to his appointment to head ASIO
in July 2005, O'Sullivan was former Prime Minister John Howard
's senior foreign affairs advisor.
O'Sullivan attended Marcellin College
, Randwick
, and graduated from the University of Sydney
with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons). After joining the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1971, O'Sullivan held diplomatic appointments in Rome
, Washington, D.C.
and Cairo
. Between 1991 and 1994 he was the Australian UN disarmament representative. From 1994 to 1996 he headed two divisions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
(DFAT). After serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Washington, O'Sullivan was appointed as the Australian Ambassador to Germany
in 1999.
O'Sullivan was the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade between 2003 and 2004. He was appointed as Senior Advisor (International) to the Prime Minister in January 2004.
officer Warren Reed, who claimed that O'Sullivan failed to protect Reed's cover while serving as deputy to the Australian Ambassador in Cairo, leading to the abduction of Reed's operational assistant by Egyptian security agents and the closure of the ASIS station in Cairo.
into allegations that the AWB had breached UN sanctions by paying kickbacks to the regime of former Iraqi dictator Sadaam Hussein. Notes tendered to the Australian Government's Cole Inquiry
showed that O'Sullivan told AWB executives to "[k]eep your responses narrow [and] technical. Do not blame US, complain about process." Prime Minister John Howard had previously ordered full co-operation with the UN inquiry.
and pleaded guilty in a New Zealand court case. He was fined and returned to Canberra and has since resigned from the RAN. At the time of Napiers appointment to Wellington some two years earlier, O'Sullivan was heading ASIO - the department tasked with vetting individuals for their suitability for Australian diplomatic positions.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(b. Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, 1948) is Australia's High Commissioner to New Zealand and former Director-General of Security
Director-General of Security
The Director-General of Security is the executive officer of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation , the domestic security agency of Australia...
. Prior to his appointment to head ASIO
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
in July 2005, O'Sullivan was former Prime Minister John Howard
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
's senior foreign affairs advisor.
O'Sullivan attended Marcellin College
Marcellin College
Marcellin College is a Marist Catholic secondary boys' school situated in Bulleen, Victoria, Australia.The school was founded in 1950 by the Marist Brothers originally in Camberwell...
, Randwick
Randwick, New South Wales
Randwick is a suburb in south-eastern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Randwick is located 6 kilometres south-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre for the local government area of the City of Randwick...
, and graduated from the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons). After joining the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1971, O'Sullivan held diplomatic appointments in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. Between 1991 and 1994 he was the Australian UN disarmament representative. From 1994 to 1996 he headed two divisions in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the government of Australia charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally...
(DFAT). After serving as Deputy Chief of Mission at the Australian Embassy in Washington, O'Sullivan was appointed as the Australian Ambassador to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 1999.
O'Sullivan was the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade between 2003 and 2004. He was appointed as Senior Advisor (International) to the Prime Minister in January 2004.
Allegation by former ASIS officer
O'Sullivan's appointment as Director-General of Security was criticised by former Australian Secret Intelligence ServiceAustralian Secret Intelligence Service
The Australian Secret Intelligence Service is the Australian government intelligence agency responsible for collecting foreign intelligence, undertaking counter-intelligence activities and cooperation with other intelligence agencies overseas...
officer Warren Reed, who claimed that O'Sullivan failed to protect Reed's cover while serving as deputy to the Australian Ambassador in Cairo, leading to the abduction of Reed's operational assistant by Egyptian security agents and the closure of the ASIS station in Cairo.
Role in "Oil for Food" scandal
According to evidence presented to the Australian Royal Commission into the "oil for food" scandal, in June 2005, while serving as senior international advisor to the Prime Minister, O'Sullivan advised executives of the Australian Wheat Board (AWB) against full co-operation with a United Nations inquiryPaul Volcker Committee
The Paul Volcker Committee was formed to investigate alleged corruption and fraud in the United Nations Oil-for-Food Programme in Iraq....
into allegations that the AWB had breached UN sanctions by paying kickbacks to the regime of former Iraqi dictator Sadaam Hussein. Notes tendered to the Australian Government's Cole Inquiry
Cole Inquiry
The Cole Inquiry, formally the Inquiry into certain Australian companies in relation to the UN Oil-For-Food Programme was a Royal Commission set up by the Government of Australia in November 2005...
showed that O'Sullivan told AWB executives to "[k]eep your responses narrow [and] technical. Do not blame US, complain about process." Prime Minister John Howard had previously ordered full co-operation with the UN inquiry.
Disgraced diplomat at the Australian High Commission in Wellington
In November 2010 (then) Lieutenent Commander Mark Napier of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) was the Assistant Defence Attache under O'Sullivan. Napier was found to have been accessing child pornography. Napier was stripped of his diplomatic immunityDiplomatic immunity
Diplomatic immunity is a form of legal immunity and a policy held between governments that ensures that diplomats are given safe passage and are considered not susceptible to lawsuit or prosecution under the host country's laws...
and pleaded guilty in a New Zealand court case. He was fined and returned to Canberra and has since resigned from the RAN. At the time of Napiers appointment to Wellington some two years earlier, O'Sullivan was heading ASIO - the department tasked with vetting individuals for their suitability for Australian diplomatic positions.
External links
- Marian Wilkinson, Spy chief gives little away at first outing, Sydney Morning Herald, 14 October 2005.
- Tom Allard, Citizen to terrorist a quick step: ASIO chief, Sydney Morning Herald, 13 March 2006.
- Brendan Nicholson, ASIO warns of domestic terror risks, The Age, 5 May 2006.
- David McKnight, Background check shows ASIO still needs to be watched, '"Sydney Morning Herald, 8 May 2006.
- Mark Todd, ASIO chief warns of attacks in Australia, The Age, 14 October 2006.
- AAP, Spy chief gagged on AWB, The Age, 14 February 2006.
- Leigh Sales, ASIO boss defends agents over kidnapping, ABC News, 5 December 2007.
- ASIO boss rejects 'kidnap' accusation, AAP, 5 December 2007.
- Officer-who-admitted-child-porn-charges-named, Stuff website 16 Nov 2010