US failure to appoint Australian ambassador a 'diplomatic insult', says former deputy PM

Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister Tim Fischer has condemned the United States over its prolonged failure to appoint an ambassador to Australia, describing the oversight as a "diplomatic insult" to one of Washington's closest allies.

Fischer, who previously served as Australia's ambassador to the Vatican, argued that the absence of a confirmed American envoy in Canberra sends a troubling signal about how the United States regards the bilateral relationship.

The criticism reflects broader unease in Australia about the state of its ties with Washington, with senior figures increasingly willing to voice frustration publicly over what they see as a lack of diplomatic respect from their most important security partner.