The United States is sending an ambassador Down Under, finally filling a two-year vacancy in Canberra.

Key points: If Arthur Culvahouse Jr. had not been confirmed today, his nomination would have expired

If Arthur Culvahouse Jr. had not been confirmed today, his nomination would have expired The diplomatic role has been vacant since 2016

The diplomatic role has been vacant since 2016 The news is likely to be warmly welcomed by both sides of Australia politics

With eyes in Washington on the partial government shutdown, there were fears the senators of the 115th Congress would not have time for a whole swathe of unfinished bureaucratic business.

But, right at the last minute, they ticked off some items on their to-do lists, confirming dozens of President Donald Trump's nominees for postings, en masse.

They may have acted on the urging of the President, who had complained on Twitter his candidates were waiting "FAR TOO LONG" and claimed "heads of countries" had been phoning about the delay.

Among the nominees was Arthur Culvahouse Jr, who will serve as US ambassador to Australia.

For what it's worth, the US ambassadors to Kenya, Mongolia, Brunei, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Guyana and Armenia also got the nod.

If Mr Culvahouse had not been confirmed today, his nomination would have expired, possibly leading to weeks of delays.

"It certainly means he'll be in the country by the time of the election and that's extremely important," said Bruce Wolpe, a visiting fellow at the United States Studies Centre.

"The highest levels of the State Department will have the best representation of what's occurring in Australia."

The diplomatic role, which has been vacant since 2016, has been something of a sore spot in the US-Australia relationship.

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The US redirected its first nominee, Harry Harris, to serve in South Korea as tensions with North Korea rose this Autumn.

Some, including former prime minister Kevin Rudd, saw the move as a diplomatic snub.

"At the last minute, the people invested in the relationship did the political work necessary to get this cleared," Mr Wolpe said.

"There was very good execution at the last stages of the Senate. So for all those reasons, it's very good news."

For the past two years, officials in Canberra and Washington have played down the significance of the vacancy in Canberra and have said it had little impact on the strength of the US-Australia relationship.

A spokesman for Foreign Minister Marise Payne said yesterday: "Australia has been exceptionally well served by US Charge d'Affaires James Carouso, who has provided strong leadership and valued counsel."

Nonetheless, the news of the confirmation is likely to be warmly welcomed by both sides of Australian politics.