Updating All Day, Every Day
THERE are no plans to appoint a Singapore consul or open a consulate on Phuket, Phuketwan has been assured. Reports that one could be appointed are the result of a misunderstanding at Phuket Provincial Hall, we have been told.
Original Report
PHUKET: The appointment of Canadian lawyer Michelle Hawryluk as Australia's honorary consul on Phuket has been confirmed - 15 months after the departure of her predecessor.
It is believed the delay was caused by the takeover of Thailand by the military. Envoys must traditionally have their credentials confirmed by the host country.
Ms Hawryluk, who studied in Australia, replaces Larry Cunningham, who retired in September 2013 after eight years in the role.
According to a release from the Australian embassy in Bangkok, about 900,000 Australians visit Thailand each year. About 350,000 visit Phuket, the statement says.
Despite those figures, the Australian Government killed a plan to establish a fulltime Consulate-General's office on the popular holiday island to match the one that operates in Bali.
Construction is proceeding on a large new multi-million dollar embassy in Bangkok, with trade and economic ties believed to be a priority in Australia's relationship with Thailand.
Although Australia is a close ally of the US and the US has made its objections known to the continuation of military rule, Canberra remains silent on the issue.
A New Year video message from the ambassador celebrated the close ties between the Australian military and Thailand's military.
Phuket's honorary consuls once met regularly with the island's governor and other local officials to discuss scams and rip-offs, and to find better ways to protect tourists and save lives.
Since the retirement of Mr Cunningham and his German counterpart, Dirk Naumann, expats and tourists no longer have advocates willing to speak out at an appropriate Phuket forum.
Media Release from the Australian Embassy
The Australian Government has appointed Ms Michelle Hawryluk as its new Honorary Consul for Phuket with jurisdiction in the provinces of Phuket, Krabi and Phang Nga.
Ms Hawryluk is an experienced lawyer, admitted to practice in Australia and the United States. She is currently Managing Partner of Hawryluk Legal Advisors, a law firm based in Phuket. She has lived in Phuket since 2009, and speaks Thai at an intermediate level.
Ms Hawryluk is a Canadian Citizen. She lived in Australia from 2003 to 2006, obtaining a Juris Doctor Degree from Bond University.
Nearly 900,000 Australians visit Thailand every year, with around 350,000 visiting Phuket on average. Ms Hawryluk's appointment will help the Australian Government to continue delivering high quality consular services to Australians in Phuket.
Contact details for the Australian Consulate in Phuket are as follows:
77/77 Unit 6D, CCM Complex, Moo 5
Charlermprakiat Rama 9 Road
Phuket Province, 83000, Thailand
Telephone: +66 (0) 76 510 111
"Since the retirement of Mr Cunningham and his German counterpart, Dirk Naumann, expats and tourists no longer have advocates willing to speak out at an appropriate Phuket forum".
A bit of an unfair comment- Martin Carpenter spoke out about issues recently and news outlets, including yourselves, widely reported it. Whilst Larry and Herr Neuman were the most vocal it doesn't mean others aren't.
Posted by Mister Ree on January 30, 2015 08:56
Editor Comment:
When was the last honorary consuls' forum, Mister Ree? One consul talking at one meeting about one topic doesn't make a forum.