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Paul Madden

British Ambassador to Japan

Part of UK in Australia

17th December 2014

Australia, we’re all riding with you today

The eyes of the world focused on a small chocolate cafe in Sydney’s Martin Place this week as the tragic events of the hostage-taking played out. This was front page news in the media in Britain and all around the world. Such events strike a particular chord because everyone thinks “if it’s happening to ordinary people in an ordinary place like that, it could happen to any of us anywhere”. You can’t even begin to imagine what the hostages and their loved ones outside are going through.

PM Tony Abbott and his wife Margie lay flowers in Sydney's Martin Square.
PM Tony Abbott and his wife Margie lay flowers in Sydney’s Martin Square.

The fact that the perpetrator Man Haron Monis used Islamic insignia initially raised concerns that this was part of a wider terrorist plot by muslim extremists. But in fact he seems to have been a crazed individual lone wolf, with a long history of violence and antisocial behaviour.

Throughout the siege we liaised with the authorities to ascertain whether any British nationals were involved and kept London closely informed of developments. I made sure Number 10 was fully briefed. The siege was taking place just a few streets away from where David Cameron strolled with Tony Abbott during his visit last month. As Britain awoke to news of the siege the PM tweeted that his thoughts were with all those caught up in it. Speaking in Parliament yesterday, after the siege had ended, he referred to tales of extraordinary bravery and sacrifice “which is what we would expect from the people of that remarkable and great country”.

The authorities and security personnel appeared to handle the unfolding drama very competently, with political leaders and the NSW Police Commissioner and his team projecting calm, professionalism and reassurance. Sadly it did not prove possible to resolve the crisis peacefully and two of the hostages died, with others injured. The attention of the world’s media will inevitably move on, but for the families of the victims life will never be the same.

The response of ordinary Australians has been impressive. Such shocking events are much rarer here than in many comparable countries. After the siege had ended, well-wishers turned Martin Place into a sea of flowers as they sought to find a way to show their support and sympathy. Our Consul General in Sydney went there to pay respect and sign the condolences book on behalf of the British people.

A social media hashtag #Illridewithyou, which started as one person’s message about the importance of community cohesion in the face of acts of violence, went viral globally. I hope it is some comfort for Australians to know that at times like this your friends in Britain and all around the world, are thinking of you. We are all riding with you.

About Paul Madden

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017. He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia…

Paul Madden has been the British Ambassador to Japan from January 2017.

He was Additional Director for Asia Pacific at the FCO in 2015.He was British High Commissioner to Australia until February 2015. Prior to this he was British High Commissioner in Singapore from 2007-2011.

A career diplomat, he was previously Managing Director at UK Trade and Investment (2004-2006), responsible for co-ordinating and
implementing international trade development strategies to support
companies across a wide range of business sectors.

As Assistant Director of Information at the Foreign and Commonwealth
Office (2003-2004) he was responsible for public diplomacy policy,
including managing the FCO funding of the BBC World Service, the British
Council and the Chevening Scholarships programme. He led the team
responsible for the award-winning UK pavilion at the Aichi Expo in Japan
2005.

He was Deputy High Commissioner in Singapore from 2000-2003 and has
also served in Washington (1996-2000) and Tokyo (1988-92). Between
1992-96 he worked on EU enlargement and Environmental issues at the FCO
in London.

Before joining FCO he worked at the Department of Trade and Industry
(1980-87) on a range of industrial sectors and trade policy, including
two years as a minister’s Private Secretary.

He has an MA in Economic Geography from Cambridge University, an MBA
from Durham University, studied Japanese at London University’s School
of Oriental and African Studies, and is a Fellow of the Royal
Geographical Society. His first book, Raffles: Lessons in Business
Leadership, was published in 2003.

Married to Sarah, with three children, he was born in 1959, in Devon.