Australia sends senior diplomat to London

The senior diplomat has also been a foreign policy adviser in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

"I am very pleased to be here as acting high commissioner for Australia and look forward to working closely with our British friends and partners," she wrote on Twitter.

Former Queensland senator and attorney-general George Brandis has completed his term as high commissioner, but the government has yet to appoint a permanent replacement.

It was rumoured Greg Hunt, the former health minister who is retiring at the election, was in line to replace Mr Brandis.

But Mr Hunt said in media reports he had not discussed any future roles with the prime minister, and his wife Paula had the "first vote" on his future.