Joe Hockey succeeds Kim Beazley as Australia's ambassador to the US

Former Treasurer Joe Hockey will be taking over Kim Beazley as Australia’s new ambassador to the United States.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop confirmed the news and said that Hockey would start his new job in January 2016. After Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull dumped him from his treasurer post, he resigned from the parliament. In less than three months, Hockey was appointed as Australia’s new ambassador in Washington.

Bishop described Australia’s relationship with the US as the “bedrock of foreign and defence policy.” “We are working closely together on shared regional and global security, strategic and economic interests,” she said in a statement.

Hockey’s work includes managing Australia’s defence and security relationship. While Australia is encouraging its economic bond with China, its biggest trading partner, territorial tensions between China and the US makes it a challenging task for the diplomat.

Despite these issues, Hockey will be expected to ensure Chinese investors in purchasing strategic Australian assets conveniently. In November, US President Barack Obama met with Turnbull and discussed selling a port in the northern city of Darwin to China's private company, the Landbridge Group.

The Opposition Labor Party has questioned the efficiency of Hockey in managing the defence and security issues of the nation because of the existing tussle between him and Turnbull. According to the opposition, this could lead to hampered diplomatic relations with the US.

“Clearly, Malcolm Turnbull only a few weeks ago tore down Tony Abbott and Joe Hockey,” the ABC quoted Labor frontbencher Brendan O’Connor as saying on Tuesday. “I’m concerned that the relationship is still a reasonable one, because if it’s not, we’re going to have some problems in our relationship with our biggest allies.”

On the other hand, the prime minister has praised Hockey and appreciated his appointment in such a dignified post. He said the former treasurer was “a great Australian” and was one of the most convincing personalities he had ever known.

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