Scotsman columnist McTernan named Australian PM’s communications chief

THE Scotsman columnist John McTernan has been appointed to the role of director of communications for the Australian prime minister, Julia Gillard.

He will take up the post on 7 November.

Mr McTernan has worked extensively in Australia, for state governments in Victoria and South Australia, and for the Australian Labour Party. He is currently a Thinker in Residence in Adelaide, South Australia, where he is looking at health and education reform.

An experienced political adviser, Mr McTernan was Tony Blair’s political secretary from 2005 to 2007 and special adviser to Scottish secretaries Des Browne and Jim Murphy. He was recently described by the Financial Times as one of the “best and the brightest” of government advisers.

He said: “It’s a great privilege to be appointed to such a senior role in government. I love Australia and I’m a lifelong Labour Party member, so this is an ideal job for me.

“There’s definitely an affinity between Scotland and Austra- lia, and in particular there have always been strong poli-tical links as well as the family ties.

“I look forward to becoming the latest member the great diaspora.”