Leslie Wilson Johnson

Sir Leslie "Les" Wilson Johnson (born April 2, 1916 in Western Australia , † August 31, 2000 in Sydney , New South Wales ) was an Australian civil servant and diplomat who was between 1970 and 1973 administrator of the territory of Papua and New Guinea and then of 1973 to 1974 was High Commissioner of Australia in Papua New Guinea .

Life

Promoted to Administrator of the Papua and New Guinea Territory

Johnson began his career as an administrative officer in Papua New Guinea in 1962 when he was named assistant director of the Education Board. After his appointment as director of the education authority a few months later, he put the local education system and teacher training on a solid basis and campaigned intensively for the establishment of the University of Papua New Guinea , whose legislation he accompanied in the meeting house, so that the university in 1965 could be founded.

After he became vice administrator in 1966, he was appointed administrator of the Papua and New Guinea Territory in 1970. In this role he gradually changed the previous role of chief administrator of the Australian administration to that of constitutional head of the government of Papua New Guinea. His offer of advice and assistance, however, was rejected on the Gazelle Peninsula , which was part of the East New Britain Province . He sought to resolve disputes that were started by the rebel organization Mataungan Association . This remained in the struggle with the Territorial Administration until the Assembly House elections in 1972. However, he avoided a violent solution called for by the former Permanent Secretary of the Australian Department for the Foreign Territories, George Warwick Smith , in order to control all affairs in Reach Papua New Guinea. During his time as Administrator he worked closely with his predecessor David Hay , who had succeeded George Warwick Smith as Permanent Secretary for the Department for the Foreign Territories in 1970. He endeavored to improve relations between Australia and Papua New Guinea on a sustainable basis.

High Commissioner and Ambassador

After being granted self-government , Johnson became High Commissioner of Australia in Papua New Guinea on December 1, 1973 and held this position for a year until he was replaced by Thomas Kingston Critchley in March 1974.

He then served as Director General of the Australian Development Assistance Agency between 1974 and 1976 and was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1976 for his services . He then received his accreditation as ambassador to Greece in 1976 and also became High Commissioner in Cyprus . In 1980 he resigned from the diplomatic service and was adopted into retirement.

Shortly before his death in 2000, Johnson was made Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire , and from then on he had the suffix "Sir".

Individual evidence

1. ↑ ^{a b} Papua New Guinea on rulers.org. Retrieved September 20, 2018.