<span style="color: #222222;">Australia has appointed former New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell as the next high commissioner to India. Mr O'Farrell will succeed Harinder Sidhu who has been in the office since 2016. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs Marise Payne tweeted today that apart from his new role, Mr O'Farrell will also have non-resident accreditation to Bhutan.<br />'' <br />'' Mr O'Farrell served in the New South Wales Parliament from 1995-2015 and the 43rd Premier of the province. Ms. Payne added, he has served as New South Wales' Special Envoy for India and made a significant contribution as the Deputy Chair of the Australia- India Council Board.<br />'' <br />'' Speaking on the India Australia relationship, she said that India is one of Australia's closest and most significant partners in the Indo-Pacific. </span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Ms. Payne appreciated two-way investment between the two countries, valued at 30.7 billion dollars and the contribution of around 700,000 people of Indian Origin living in Australia.</span>