Full Breakdown
Siobhan McKenna Named Australia’s Consul-General in New York
By Drooid · · How we work
Appointment Overview
On September 21, 2026, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Siobhan McKenna will succeed Heather Ridout as Australia’s consul-general in New York, a posting that includes a salary of around $350,000 and an official residence at One Beekman near the United Nations. McKenna will relocate with her husband, James Flintoft, and their three children.
Career Background
McKenna, 54, spent two decades at News Corp, most recently as head of broadcasting where she oversaw Foxtel, Sky News Australia and the development of streaming services Kayo Sports and Binge. Court documents identified her as the “driving force” behind “Project Family Harmony,” a 2023 plan to reshape the Murdoch family trust and secure Lachlan Murdoch’s sole control of the News Corp and Fox empire. The plan ultimately failed, ending with a financial settlement in 2025.
Beyond media, McKenna has held senior public roles: chair of Australia Post (appointed December 2022 and re-appointed for a second term), commissioner on the Productivity Commission, and former chair of the National Broadband Network (NBN) under the Rudd-Gillard government. She cut formal ties with News Corp in October 2022.
Official Statements & Responses
Albanese emphasized merit, noting McKenna’s blend of private-sector and public-sector experience and asserting that she will represent Australia effectively in New York. When asked whether assurances had been sought that she would not continue to lobby for Murdoch interests, Albanese reiterated confidence in her professionalism and merit-based selection.
Commentary
Media analyst Peter Cox described the appointment as “surprising” given McKenna’s reputation as Lachlan Murdoch’s right-hand person, suggesting it reflects a close relationship between the Labor government and the Murdoch family. The Guardian highlighted the posting’s strategic location in a city where finance and conservative political networks intersect, noting the contrast with traditional Labor diplomatic selections.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Siobhan McKenna is a professional, and she will do an outstanding job representing Australia and the Australian government here in New York,” — Anthony Albanese, prime minister
- “The appointment of Lachlan’s ‘right-hand person’ will come as a surprise to many, but it would not have been made unless there’s a good relationship there with the government,” — Cox. While McKenna, news corp executive
- “Her decision, as it is her decision, is essentially epochal as Siobhan has been a transformational force during her years with News Corp,” — Robert Thomson, news corp chief
