Alexander John Gosse Downer AC (born 9 September 1951, Adelaide) is an Australian Liberal politician and diplomat. Parliament of Australia is the identity anchor: Member for Mayo from 1 December 1984 until resignation on 14 July 2008; Leader of the Opposition, 1994–95; Minister for Foreign Affairs, 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2014 to 2018. In May 2016 he met George Papadopoulos in London; Australian reporting of that conversation was later cited by U.S. officials as predication for opening Crossfire Hurricane. This page is identity. The episodes live in the posts. This is not the biography he would write.
Identity
About Alexander Downer
Titles and dates come from the Parliament of Australia member page, a DFAT appointment release, the Australian honours record, and the King’s College London biography. Emphasis is the compiler’s. The Justice Department inspector general did not print his name. Identity confidence: high. No second equally notable public Alexander Downer was located.
Documented roles
- Training. B.A. (Hons), University of Newcastle upon Tyne. Parliament of Australia.
- 1976–1982. Australian Diplomatic Service. Same.
- 1982–1983. Political adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser. Same.
- 1983–1984. Director, Australian Chamber of Commerce (A.C.T.). Same.
- 1 Dec 1984–14 Jul 2008. MP for Mayo (Liberal). Resigned 14 July 2008. Same.
- 23 May 1994–30 Jan 1995. Leader of the Opposition / Liberal leader. Same; also King’s College.
- 11 Mar 1996–3 Dec 2007. Minister for Foreign Affairs (longest-serving). Same; DFAT High Commissioner appointment release.
- 2008–2014. U.N. Secretary-General’s Special Adviser on Cyprus. DFAT release; NAA Downer family collection.
- 25/26 Jan 2013. Companion of the Order of Australia. Australian Honours Search Facility; Parliament lists 26 January 2013.
- 2014–2018. Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. DFAT appointment; King’s College.
- May 2016. Meeting in London with George Papadopoulos. Documented as a meeting; content disputed. See posts.
- 31 Jul 2016. FBI opens Crossfire Hurricane; OIG says opening followed FFG information and a Priestap decision. The OIG text does not print “Alexander Downer.” OIG news release.
- 2018–2023. Executive Chair, International School for Government, King’s College London. Later: Chairman, Policy Exchange; trustee, International Crisis Group. KCL bio; RUSI.
What this site is not
It is not a finding that Alexander Downer committed a crime. An FBI memo is not a court. Horowitz wrote Friendly Foreign Government, not the name. A diplomat’s Sky News interview is not the Australian cable. Loaded slogans about starting a hoax are not official findings unless a cited record uses those words. Papadopoulos’s sting allegation is labeled. Downer’s denial is labeled. This site does not invent quotes, an MI6/ASIS rank, a Clinton-campaign title, or a conviction.
It is not a White House product. It is not lawsuit-proof. Read the posts.