connection to land, culture and community. Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson had been offered the governorship of South Australia in 1895 and of Victoria in 1910, but refused both appointments. The Governor-General wearing a shirt and tie sits at a desk with a pen in hand. At the same time as the appointment of Isaacs as the first Australian-born governor-general, a separate role of British Representative in Australia (as the representative of the British government) was established, with Ernest Crutchley the first appointee. The most important power is found in section 58: "When a proposed law passed by both Houses of Parliament is presented to the Governor-General for the Queen's assent, he shall declare that he assents in the Queen's name." The King and Queen Consort will first head to France on March 16, where they will undertake engagements in Paris and Bordeaux. Dunrossil died in office on 3 February 1961. It is also, in the same section, declared to be "exercisable" by the Governor-General as the Queen's representative. YARRALUMLA ACT 2600, Tel: (02) 6283 3533E-mail the Governor-General or Government House. To mollify Hughes, Milner offered him a choice between three candidates. Answer (1 of 7): Firstly anyone with that ambition will be unsuitable for the job and will miss out. The 30 recipients of awards in the Military Division of the Order of Australia include: The 64 recipients of Distinguished and Conspicuous awards include: An additional 77 Australians recognised for their contribution in support of Australias response to the COVID-19 pandemic have been added to the COVID-19 Honour Roll. South Australia was also the first state to appoint a woman as governor, when Dame Roma Mitchell took office in 1991. To provide continuity through general elections both federally and in New South Wales, Hurley succeeded General Sir Peter Cosgrove, who had planned to retire in March 2019, on 1 July 2019.[1][2]. According to William McMahon, Harold Holt considered having Lord Casey dismissed from the governor-generalship, and went as far as to have the necessary documents drawn up. The first four governors-general were peers; Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson (appointed 1914) was the first commoner to hold the position, although he was also later elevated to the peerage. The governor-general makes state visits overseas on behalf of Australia, during which an administrator of the government is appointed. Sir, "David Hurley named next governor general of Australia", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_governors-general_of_Australia&oldid=1140852633, Short description is different from Wikidata, All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 02:42. Menzies's fourth nomination was Richard Casey, who took office in 1965; he and all subsequent governors-general have been Australian citizens. The first female Governor-General was the Honourable Dame Quentin Alice Bryce AD, CVO, who served from 2008 to 2014. Holding and possiblyexercisingthe Reserve Powers. That position, though now generally well recognised, undoubtedly represents a development from an earlier stage when the Governor-General was appointed solely on the advice of His Majesty's Ministers in London and acted also as their representative. Gorton agreed to put the matter to his ministers, and a cabinet meeting agreed that troops should only be called out if requested by the territory's administrator; this did not occur. [46] Bill Hayden declined the office on the grounds of his atheism, which was incompatible with the Scout Promise. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd). [28] In practice, they are Australias Head of State and have a range of constitutional and ceremonial duties. And the first female governor-general was Quentin Bryce, who took up the position in 2008. The executive power of the Commonwealth, by section 61 of the Constitution, is declared to be vested in the Queen. The first Governor-General, the Earl of Hopetoun, was a previous governor of Victoria. The Constitution sets out some specific tasks for the Governor-General, including: The Governor-General's ceremonial and constitutional roles are closely related. The governor-general is officially appointed by the monarch of Britain but is recommended by the prime minister of Australia. The first Governor-General was the Right Honourable John Adrian Louis Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, who served from 1901 to 1903. The Governor-General does not have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the government but has a role in both the government and the Parliament. Most spouses of governors-general have been content to be quietly supportive. The independence of the office is highlighted by changes which have been made in recent years to the Royal Instruments relating to it. Occasionally governors-general have made extended tours visiting multiple countries, notably in 2009 when Quentin Bryce visited nine African countries in 19 days. At one time, governors-general wore the traditional court uniform, consisting of a dark navy wool double-breasted coatee with silver oak leaf and fern embroidery on the collar and cuffs trimmed with silver buttons embossed with the Royal Arms and with bullion edged epaulettes on the shoulders, dark navy trousers with a wide band of silver oak-leaf braid down the outside seam, silver sword belt with ceremonial sword, bicorne cocked hat with plume of ostrich feathers, black patent leather Wellington boots with spurs, etc., that is worn on ceremonial occasions. Videos are posted by the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, The Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General. The governor-general travels in a Rolls-Royce Phantom VI limousine for ceremonial occasions, such as the State Opening of Parliament. On Thursday 2 March 2023, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council. "It will also provide an opportunity to look forwards and demonstrate the many ways the UK is working in partnership with France and Germany. In 1989, Bill Hayden, a republican, declined appointment to the British Privy Council and any imperial honours. Individual items of correspondence of this type will not be brought to the attention of the Governor-General and senders should not expect a reply. Register, Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout, Join the conversation, you are commenting as. That role can become controversial, however, if the governor-general becomes unpopular with sections of the community. Afterwards, the Governor-General hosted a breakfast for The Honourable Patrick Gorman MP, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister. Only one governor-general, Dame Quentin Bryce (20082014), has been a woman. Representative of the monarch of Australia, Sir Isaac Isaacs, the first Australian-born governor-general, 19311936, Dame Quentin Bryce, the first female governor-general, 20082014. [6] The actual powers of the governor-general as commander-in-chief are not defined in the constitution, but rather in the Defence Act 1903 and other legislation. Dame Quentin Alice Louise Bryce AD, CVO (ne Strachan; born 23 December 1942) was the 25th Governor-General of Australia, from September 2008 to March 2014. Following the proclamation of the King in London, proclamations have been read across Australia, including outside New South Wales' Parliament House.A crowd . The Governor-General of Australiais addressed as His/Her Excellencydenoting his/her rank the vice-royal representative of the monarchto a Commonwealth nation. The dismissal of the Whitlam Government by Governor-General Sir John Kerr was perhaps the most dramatic and controversial event in Australia's constitutional and political history. Mr Albanese previously met with King Charles in September last year while he was in London for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. The then leader of the Opposition, Robert Menzies, called McKell's appointment "shocking and humiliating". 'What does being recognised mean to me?' Section 1 of the Australian Constitution says that the Parliament is made up of the King, the Senate and the House of Representatives. [62] In 1925, under Prime Minister Stanley Bruce, the same practice was followed for the appointment of Forster's successor Lord Stonehaven, with the Australian government publicly stating that his name "had been submitted, with others, to the Commonwealth ministry, who had selected him".[63]. Such decisions are usually taken on the advice of the prime minister, although that is not stated in the constitution. All times AEDT (GMT +11). [5] The governor-general has formal presidency over the Federal Executive Council and is commander-in-chief of the Australian Defence Force. The Governor-General is appointed by the King on the advice of the Prime Minister and performs a large number of functions which are defined by the Constitution. By convention, the prime minister is appointed to this council and advises as to which parliamentarians shall become ministers and parliamentary secretaries. Three governors-general have resigned their commission. The Governor-General of Australia is His Majesty The King's representative . They had the right to "reserve" legislation passed by the Parliament of Australia: in effect, to ask the Colonial Office in London for an opinion before giving the royal assent. This fact sheet introduces the constitutional, ceremonial and civic roles of the Governor-General, and the history of the position. Now, the King of Australia is generally bound by constitutional convention to accept the advice of the Australian prime minister and state premiers about Australian and state constitutional matters, respectively. Travelling widely to encourage and acknowledge individuals and groups making a substantial contribution to the community, Responding quickly and compassionately on behalf of all Australians to natural disasters and events of national significance. Buckingham Palace on Friday announced details of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla's first overseas trip since assuming their titles after Queen Elizabeth's death. "[21], The 1988 Constitutional Commission report explained: "the governor-general is in no sense a delegate of the Queen. It is played at all official and ceremonial . A list of all former Governors-General. Some, however, have been notable in their own right, such as Dame Alexandra Hasluck, Lady Casey and Michael Bryce. "[21], As early as 1901, the authoritative commentary by Quick and Garran had noted that the governor-general of Australia was distinguished from other Empire governors-general by the fact that "[t]he principal and most important of his powers and functions, legislative as well as executive, are expressly conferred on him by the terms of the Constitution itself not by Royal authority, but by statutory authority". log in. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Residence of Governor General Sydney Australia Unused Private Postcard H17 at the best online prices at eBay! Menzies had sought a man of stature, one who had no involvement in Australian politics, and one who would represent the monarch effectively. For the first two decades after federation, governors-general were selected solely by the British government. Sir Isaac Issacs had the esteemed honour of becoming the first Australian-born governor-general in 1931. [11] When a new governor-general is to be appointed, the current prime minister recommends a name to the monarch, who by convention accepts that recommendation. Quentin Bryce's appointment was announced during her term as Governor of Queensland; she had previously been the Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner. Hosting visiting Heads of State and other prominent visitors to Australia, Receivingthe credentials of newly appointed Ambassadors and High Commissioners to Australia, Through Federal Executive Council, appointing the Chief of Defence Force and Service Chiefs, Commissioning officers in the Navy, Army and Air Force, Presenting Colours, Banners and other Honours to military units and personnel, Visiting military units to acknowledge the service of service personnel. After elections, or when a government loses or wins a majority in the Australian House of Representatives , the Governor General is the person who legally decides that the prime minister has the numbers to lead a government. The constitutional crisis of 1975 raised the possibility of the prime minister and the governor-general attempting to dismiss each other at the same time. I am committed as Governor-General to support these people in their work. Scullin's proposed appointment of Sir Isaac Isaacs was fiercely opposed by the British government. In the constitution, the words "Governor-General-in-council" mean the governor-general acting with the advice of the Council. Place of birth. The monarch was consulted on the decision into the 1930s. The usual wording of official announcements of this nature read "The King has been pleased to appoint ", but on this occasion the announcement said merely "The King has appointed ", and his private secretary (Lord Stamfordham) asked the Australian solicitor-general, Sir Robert Garran, to make sure that Scullin was aware of the exact wording. Australian Honours and Awards | Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Australian Honours and Awards View the Australia Day 2023 Honours List Overview The Australian Honours and Awards system recognises the outstanding service and contributions of Australians. Section 4 of the constitution allows the Monarch to appoint an administrator to carry out the role of governor-general when there is a vacancy. She was the first woman to be the Governor-General. Former leading politicians and members of the judiciary have figured prominently. [9] Governors-General since 1901 are listed in Appendix 1. The official cars of the governor-general fly the Flag of the Governor-General of Australia and display St. Edward's Crown instead of number plates. Quentin Bryce's salary was $394,000. [61] The memorandum met with strong opposition within the Colonial Office and was dismissed by Lord Milner, the Colonial Secretary; no response was given. As the Balfour Declaration of 1926, later implemented as the Statute of Westminster 1931, put it: It is desirable formally to place on record a definition of the position held by the Governor-General as His Majesty's representative in the Dominions. [26] This view was also held by Senior Judge of the Supreme Court of Tasmania Andrew Inglis Clark, who, with W. Harrison Moore (a contributor to the first draft of the constitution put before the 1897 Adelaide Convention and professor of law at the University of Melbourne), postulated that the letters patent and the royal instructions issued by Queen Victoria were unnecessary "or even of doubtful legality". [6][12][13] These oaths are administered by the chief justice of Australia or another senior judge. Please read ourPrivacy Statement. Ms Adamson, 60, was also Australia's ambassador to China from 2011 . There are countless organisations and people demonstrating how rich this country is each day. Permission should be sought from Office of the Governor-General for third-party or commercial uses of this image. The Governor-General's ceremonial duties include: The Governor-General is in constant contact with the Australian people. Scullin was equally insistent that the monarch must act on the relevant prime minister's direct advice (the practice until 1926 was that Dominion prime ministers advised the monarch indirectly, through the British government, which effectively had a veto over any proposal it did not agree with). [51] However, for official business, the current choice of car is an armoured BMW 7 Series.[52]. The Australian Government was merely asked, as a matter of courtesy, whether they approved of the choice or not. [32], In addition to the formal constitutional role, the governor-general has a representative and ceremonial role, though the extent and nature of that role has depended on the expectations of the time, the individual in office at the time, the wishes of the incumbent government, and the individual's reputation in the wider community. Dame Quentin Bryce (20082014) was the first woman to be appointed to the office. Each recipient has something in common someone nominated them. [48] Under the Governor-General Act 1974, each new commission has resulted in a pay increase. When travelling abroad, the governor-general is seen as the representative of Australia and its monarch. Australia will be represented at the coronation of King Charles III by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Governor-General David Hurley, it has been confirmed. Hollingworth resigned on 28 May 2003. Later, the Governor-General and Mrs Hurley received Mr Gary Meyers, Ambassador, St Vincents Hospital, on the completion of Mr Meyers walk from Sydney to Canberra. In an address to the Sydney Institute, January 2007, in connection with that event, Sir David Smith, a retired official secretary to the governor-general of Australia who had been Kerr's official secretary in 1975, described the constitution as conferring the powers and functions of Australia's head of state on the governor-general in "his own right". I've been invited to his coronation, on the first Saturday in May, I will attend along with the Governor-General, with other guests as well who have been invited by the Palace," he said. Whenever the Governor-General makes a public statement, they avoid personal opinions and do not comment on political and other controversies. Slim was to see no change of prime minister over his term of nearly seven years. In Commentaries on the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, Garran noted that, since the Australian executive is national in nature (being dependent on the nationally elected House of Representatives, rather than the Senate), "the Governor-General, as the official head of the Executive, does not in the smallest degree represent any federal element; if he represents anything he is the image and embodiment of national unity and the outward and visible representation of the Imperial relationship of the Commonwealth".[34]. He spent much of his retirement in Europe but returned to Australia several times in the 1980s . The salutation for a letter addressed to the Governor-General and Mrs Hurleyshould be "Your Excellencies". The first governor-general, Lord Hopetoun, asked to be recalled to Britain in 1903 over a dispute about funding for the post. From that time until 2014, governors-general did not receive automatic titles or honours, other than the post-nominal AC by virtue of being Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order of Australia. In recent decades the typical term of office has been five years. The governor-general has a ceremonial role in swearing in and accepting the resignations of members of Parliament. And it is exercisable by the Queen's representative, not her delegate or agent. On 24 June 2010 the 25th and first female governor-general of Australia, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, swore in the 27th and first female prime minister, Ms Julia Gillard. Macquarie joined the British army as a boy and served in North America . Australia's constitution, which can be considered crudely as an amalgam of the constitutional forms of the United Kingdom and the United States, was adopted in 1900 and entered into force in 1901. The following year, as Ronald Munro Ferguson's term was about to expire, Hughes cabled the Colonial Office and asked that the appointment be made in accordance with the memorandum. In 1975, Labor Prime Minister Gough Whitlam advised the Queen that Sir Colin Hannah, then Governor of Queensland, should have his dormant commission revoked for having made public and partisan anti-Whitlam Government political statements, in violation of the convention that state governors and federal governors-general remain neutral and above politics. [15] In 1961, Lord Dunrossil became the first and, to date, only governor-general to die while holding office. Australian News Channel Pty Ltd 2017 - 2023. The constitution describes the parliament of the commonwealth as consisting of the Monarch, the Senate and the House of Representatives. In 2007, media outlets reported that Prince William might become governor-general of Australia. 1.2 National anthem and flag protocols. The constitution also provides that the salary of the governor-general cannot be "altered" during his or her term of office. These means the Governor-General is a part of both the Parliament and the executive government, and carries out tasks on behalf of the King. The letters released on Tuesday revealed that Kerr, who as Governor-General was the Queen's official representative in Australia, held extensive discussions with the palace over what powers he held.