Governor-General of Australia facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia
Flag of the governor-general
Badge
Incumbent Sam Mostyn since 1 July 2024
Viceregal
Style	Her Excellency the Honourable
Residence	Government House (Canberra) Admiralty House (Sydney)
Appointer	Monarch of Australia on the advice of the prime minister
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure (typically 5 years)
Constituting instrument	Australian Constitution
Formation	29 October 1900
First holder	John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun
Salary	$709,017

The governor-general of Australia is the main representative of the King or Queen of Australia, who is currently Charles III. This important job involves many different duties. The governor-general has roles in Australia's government and also represents the country in a special way.

Even though they have a lot of power on paper, they usually follow the advice of the Prime Minister and the Federal Executive Council. This is part of how Australia's government works. The governor-general also plays a big part in the community. They recognise people and groups who do great things and represent Australia as a whole. The current governor-general is Sam Mostyn.

Some key things the governor-general does include:

Giving royal assent (signing) bills passed by Parliament to make them laws.
Calling for elections.
Using executive power (government power) when advised by the Federal Executive Council.
Officially appointing government officials like the Prime Minister, other ministers, judges, and ambassadors.
Being the commander-in-chief of the Australian Defence Force (the military).
Giving out Australian awards.

Most of the time, the governor-general uses these powers by following the rules of the Westminster system. This means they stay politically neutral. They only act on advice from Parliament or ministers. However, there are rare situations where the governor-general can use special "reserve powers." These powers can be used without or against advice. A famous example was during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. When these powers are used, it can be very controversial.

In their community role, the governor-general represents Australia. They attend special events and ceremonies. They also support community groups and host events at their official homes. These homes are Government House in Canberra and Admiralty House in Sydney. When travelling overseas, the governor-general represents Australia at important events. They also welcome leaders from other countries to Australia. About 80 staff members help the governor-general with their duties.

The Prime Minister chooses the governor-general. The King or Queen of Australia then formally appoints them based on the Prime Minister's choice. There is no set time for how long they serve, but it's usually five years. From 1901 until 1965, most governors-general were British nobles. But since then, all have been Australian citizens. Sam Mostyn is the second woman to hold the job. The first was Dame Quentin Bryce (2008–2014).

How the Governor-General is Appointed

David Hurley (centre) taking his oath to become governor-general in 2019.

The King or Queen of Australia officially appoints the governor-general. This appointment is made under the rules of the Australian Constitution. When a new governor-general is needed, the Prime Minister suggests a name to the King or Queen. Usually, the King or Queen agrees to this choice. Before the 1940s, the whole Cabinet (a group of top ministers) made the recommendation.

The public usually hears about the new governor-general several months before the old one finishes. After being appointed, the new governor-general takes two important promises. They make an oath of loyalty to the King or Queen. They also make an oath to do their job well. The Chief Justice of Australia or another High Court judge oversees these promises. This ceremony usually happens in the Senate chamber.

How Long They Serve

The Constitution does not say how long a governor-general must serve. So, they can stay in office for any agreed time. In recent years, most have served for five years. Some early governors-general served for only one or two years. Sometimes, their term might be extended for a short time. This can happen to avoid problems during an election or political difficulties.

Three governors-general have resigned from their position. The first governor-general, Lord Hopetoun, asked to return to Britain in 1903. This was because of a disagreement about money for the job. Sir John Kerr resigned in 1977. His official reason was to take a job as an ambassador. However, his resignation was also linked to the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. In 2003, Peter Hollingworth temporarily stepped aside because of controversial claims against him. In 1961, Lord Dunrossil was the first and only governor-general to die while in office.

A governor-general's job becomes empty if they resign, die, or cannot do their job. A temporary vacancy happens if the governor-general is overseas on official trips. It also happened when Peter Hollingworth stepped aside.

Section 4 of the Constitution allows the King or Queen to appoint an administrator. This person does the governor-general's job when it's empty. Usually, the longest-serving state governor has a special "dormant commission." This allows them to take over if the governor-general's job becomes empty. In 1975, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam asked the Queen to remove Sir Colin Hannah's dormant commission. Sir Colin was the governor of Queensland. He had made public statements against the Whitlam government. This went against the rule that vice-regal representatives should stay neutral.

Ending Their Term Early

A governor-general can be removed by the King or Queen before their term ends. This usually only happens if the Prime Minister advises it. The Prime Minister is then responsible for choosing a new governor-general. The 1975 Australian constitutional crisis brought up the idea of the Prime Minister and governor-general trying to remove each other at the same time.

The Governor-General's Role in Government

The governor-general has a very important role in how Australia is governed. They perform duties in all parts of the government.

Role in the Australian Parliament

The Constitution says that the Parliament of the Commonwealth includes the King or Queen, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. However, the King or Queen's role is mostly symbolic. The governor-general does most of the jobs related to Parliament.

These jobs include:

Calling Parliament to meet.
Ending a Parliament session.
Calling for elections for the House of Representatives.
Bringing both houses of Parliament together for a special meeting.
Giving royal assent to bills in the King or Queen's name. This makes them laws.

The governor-general also has a ceremonial role. They oversee the swearing-in of new members of Parliament. All members must promise loyalty to the King or Queen before they can start their jobs. On the day Parliament opens, the governor-general gives a speech in the Senate. This speech is written by the government. It explains what laws the government plans to make.

One of the most important powers is giving royal assent. This signature makes bills passed by Parliament into real laws. Laws usually start 28 days after being signed. The government does not formally tell the governor-general to sign. But it is expected that they will follow the will of the elected Parliament. Royal assent has never been refused.

Besides signing a bill, the governor-general can also "reserve" a bill for the King or Queen. This means the King or Queen would personally sign the bill. In the past, this allowed the British government to review Australian bills. But now, the British government no longer has these powers. This "reservation" power is only used rarely. It might be used for bills that affect the King or Queen personally. It has also been used for very important national laws.

Finally, the governor-general can send a bill back to Parliament with suggested changes. This has only happened when the government realised a bill needed more changes after it was passed.

Role in Executive Government

Governor-General Peter Cosgrove with ministers of the Second Turnbull ministry in 2016.

The Constitution says that the government's executive power belongs to the King or Queen. But the governor-general is the one who uses this power. They only use it when advised by ministers. This happens formally through the Federal Executive Council. This group includes all current (and some former) ministers. They advise the governor-general. This advice usually comes from decisions already made by the Cabinet. The Cabinet is the most powerful executive group in Australia.

Many executive powers are also given to the governor-general by laws. This allows the government to do certain things without needing a new law. This is useful when making a law would be too slow, like during emergencies. For example, in March 2020, a "human biosecurity emergency" was declared. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The governor-general can also ask questions, encourage, and warn the government. However, they don't have regular weekly meetings with the Prime Minister. Meetings happen when either side asks for one. They can have more influence at Federal Executive Council meetings. But this needs the governor-general to have legal experience. Also, some governments expect the governor-general to just approve things without much discussion.

Special Powers (Reserve Powers)

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull meeting with Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove in 2016. He was asking for a special election called a double dissolution.

Reserve powers are special powers the governor-general can use on their own. This means they can act without or against the advice of ministers. Most of these powers are in the Constitution. But when they can be used is decided by tradition, not written rules.

The reserve powers that are generally accepted are:

Choosing a Prime Minister if no party wins a clear majority in an election.
Removing a Prime Minister who has lost the support of the House of Representatives.
Refusing to dissolve the House of Representatives (call an election).

Some reserve powers are debated more:

Refusing a "double-dissolution" (a special type of election).
Refusing to end a Parliament session.
Choosing a Prime Minister after one has been removed for losing support.
Removing a Prime Minister who cannot get money approved by Parliament and refuses to resign or call an election.
Removing a Prime Minister who has broken the law.
Refusing to give royal assent to a bill.

The most famous use of reserve powers happened during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. Governor-General Sir John Kerr removed the government of Gough Whitlam. He then appointed Malcolm Fraser as Prime Minister while an election was held. Kerr acted because the Senate, controlled by the opposition, blocked money for the government. He said this gave him the right to remove the government when they would not resign or call an election. This event is still highly debated in Australian history.

The Governor-General's Ceremonial Role

Besides their formal government role, the governor-general also has a role representing Australia. This role changes based on what people expect, who is in the job, and the government's wishes. Governors-general often become patrons (supporters) of charities. They present awards and host events for different groups, including ambassadors from other countries. They also travel widely across Australia. Sir William Deane (governor-general 1996–2001) once said one of his jobs was to be "Chief Mourner" at important funerals.

This public role can become difficult if the governor-general becomes unpopular. Sir John Kerr's public role was greatly reduced after the 1975 crisis. Sir William Deane's public comments on political issues also caused some disagreement.

Role in International Relations

Governor-General David Hurley and Linda Hurley with New Zealand Governor-General Dame Patsy Reddy and Sir David Gascoigne in 2021.

The governor-general makes official visits overseas for Australia. When they do, another person is appointed to temporarily do their job. It was decided in 1926 that governors-general could make these visits. This was because the King or Queen could not visit every country they represented. However, an Australian governor-general did not make such a visit until 1971. That was Paul Hasluck, who visited New Zealand.

The governor-general also officially approves Australia's ambassadors. They send formal letters to other country leaders. They also officially welcome foreign ambassadors when they arrive in Canberra. Before 1987, the King or Queen made these appointments.

Military Role

Governor-General Quentin Bryce giving the Victoria Cross to Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith in 2011.

The Governor-General's rank insignia.

Under section 68 of the Constitution, the governor-general is the command-in-chief of Australia's military forces. This means they are the King or Queen's representative for the military. Some people think this means the governor-general is mostly a symbolic head of the military. Others believe they are the ultimate head of the military chain of command. This means they could influence or stop the military from being used for political reasons.

Former governor-general Sir Ninian Stephen believed the section gave him personal command of the military. But he thought the power to give orders or call out the military needed direct advice from the relevant minister. Other powers are in the Defence Force Act 1903. These include appointing the Chief of the Defence Force. They can also call out the Defence Force and declare a time of war. These are usually done on advice. Also, all military officers are appointed by the governor-general on behalf of the King or Queen.

In the past, only the King or Queen (advised by the British government) could declare war. This was the view in 1939. But by 1941, the Curtin government advised the governor-general to declare war on some countries. It was still unclear if the governor-general had this power. So, the government also asked King George VI to make similar declarations. No formal declarations of war have been made since World War II.

The powers of commander-in-chief are given to the governor-general directly. They are not given to the "Governor-General in Council." However, this does not mean they can use these powers without advice. In 1970, Governor-General Paul Hasluck refused Prime Minister John Gorton's request. Gorton wanted to send peacekeeping troops to Papua New Guinea. Hasluck refused because the Cabinet had not been asked. Gorton agreed to ask his ministers. The Cabinet decided troops should only be called if the territory's administrator asked. This did not happen. This event contributed to Gorton losing his job as Prime Minister.

Community Role

The governor-general is often asked to be a patron of different charities and service groups. In the past, the governor-general also served as the Chief Scout of Australia. The Chief Scout is chosen by the Scouting Association. Bill Hayden refused this role because he was an atheist. This was not compatible with the Scout Promise. However, he did serve as the association's patron.

Relationship with the King or Queen

Governor-General Quentin Bryce with Queen Elizabeth II in 2011.

The governor-general is the King or Queen's representative. This is stated in section 2 of the Constitution. However, the powers they use come only from the Constitution itself. In the past, people thought the King or Queen kept some powers. They thought these powers were then given to the governor-general. But now, it is understood that all royal powers can be used by the governor-general under section 61 of the Constitution. Because of this, no extra powers have been given to the governor-general since 1987.

Even when the King or Queen is in Australia, the governor-general still performs their duties. The King or Queen does not personally do the jobs given to the governor-general by the Constitution.

The King or Queen did not change the actions of Governor-General Sir John Kerr. He dismissed the government of Gough Whitlam during the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. The Queen's private secretary said that the power to appoint the Prime Minister was "clearly placed within the jurisdiction of the governor-general." He said the Queen had no part in the decisions the governor-general had to make.

Sir David Smith, who was Kerr's official secretary in 1975, said the Constitution gives the governor-general the powers of Australia's head of state. He said the governor-general is more than just a representative. He explained that the governor-general holds a separate and independent office created by the Constitution. This office allows them to use all the powers of Australia's head of state on their own.

Special Benefits

Government House, Canberra, one of the official homes for the governor-general.

Governors-general get special benefits because of their job. They can live in Government House (also called Yarralumla) in Canberra. They also have Admiralty House, Sydney in Sydney. These are the two official homes for the job. For travel, the governor-general has a special car for ceremonies. They also have an armoured car for regular official business. These cars fly the flag of the governor-general of Australia. They also show the Tudor Crown instead of number plates.

Salary

The governor-general's salary was first set by the Constitution. It was A£10,000 per year until Parliament decided otherwise. The Constitution also says that the governor-general's salary cannot change while they are in office. Their pay is now set by a law called the Governor-General Act 1974. This law is changed for each new governor-general. It sets their salary a bit higher than the average salary of the Chief Justice of the High Court over the next five years. Since 1995, any pension the new governor-general already gets is taken into account. This is why current governor-general Samantha Mostyn's salary increased a lot. Unlike the previous governor-general, David Hurley, she does not get a military pension.

The governor-general also gets a good pension after they leave office. Before 2001, governors-general did not pay income tax on their salary. This changed after Queen Elizabeth II agreed to pay tax.

Official Clothing

William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle, the 15th governor-general of Australia (1961–65), in his formal uniform.

Before the 1970s, governors-general wore traditional formal uniforms. These included a dark blue coat with silver embroidery. They also wore special trousers, a sword, and a feathered hat. There was also a white uniform for warmer weather. However, this custom stopped during Sir Paul Hasluck's time. Governors-general now wear regular clothes day-to-day.

Titles and Honours

While in office, governors-general are called His/Her Excellency the Honourable. Their spouses are also called His/Her Excellency. Since May 2013, former governors-general are called the Honourable for life.

When the Order of Australia was created in 1975, the governor-general automatically became its leader. This meant they got the post-nominal letters AC. In 1976, the Order was changed to include Knights and Dames. From then, the governor-general became the main Knight or Dame of the order. In 1986, the Order changed again. Governors-general appointed after that time again got the AC letters.

Until 1989, all governors-general were members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. This meant they were called The Right Honourable for life. They were also usually knights or nobles. In 1989, Bill Hayden, who supported Australia becoming a republic, refused these honours. From then until 2014, governors-general did not automatically get titles or honours. Quentin Bryce was the first governor-general who had no title before her appointment. In 2014, knighthoods were brought back into the Order of Australia. The governor-general became the main Knight or Dame. However, in 2015, knighthoods were removed again. All governors-general since then have been appointed as Companions.

Spouses of governors-general do not have official duties. But they support the governor-general in their role. They are called Her Excellency or His Excellency while the governor-general is in office. Most spouses have been quietly supportive. Some have been well-known in their own right, like Dame Alexandra Hasluck and Lady Casey.

History of the Governor-General Role

The official document from Queen Victoria in 1900 that set up the office of governor-general.

The idea of a governor-general in Australia existed before the country became a federation. In the mid-1800s, some governors of New South Wales also had the title of governor-general. This was because their power extended to other Australian colonies.

John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, the first governor-general (1900–1903).

Sir Isaac Isaacs, the first Australian-born governor-general (1931–1936).

Dame Quentin Bryce, the first female governor-general (2008–2014).

The office of governor-general of Australia was planned during the talks that led to federation. The first governor-general, John Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, had been the governor of Victoria. He was chosen in July 1900. He came to Australia shortly before Australia became a country on 1 January 1901. He appointed the first prime minister of Australia, Edmund Barton.

Early governors-general were British. The King appointed them based on advice from the British government. The Australian government was only asked if they approved the choice. Governors-general were expected to oversee the Australian government. They were like colonial governors. They truly represented the British government. They could hold back laws passed by the Parliament of Australia. This meant they could ask the British government for an opinion before signing them. They used this power several times. The King or Queen, advised by the British government, could also cancel any Australian law up to a year after it was signed. This power was never used. These powers are still in section 59 of the Constitution of Australia. But today, they are not used.

In 1919, Prime Minister Billy Hughes asked the British government for a real say in choosing the King's representative. He also suggested that Australians should be able to be chosen. The British government did not like this idea at first. But later, they offered Hughes a choice of three candidates. He chose Henry Forster, 1st Baron Forster. By 1925, the same practice was followed.

During the 1920s, the job became less important. After decisions made at the 1926 Imperial Conference, the governor-general stopped representing the British government in other countries. The British government's right to oversee Australian affairs was removed. The conference said that the governor-general was the King or Queen's representative. They held the same position in Australia as the King or Queen did in Britain. They were not a representative of the British government.

However, it was still unclear who should choose new governors-general. In 1930, King George V and Australian Prime Minister James Scullin talked about choosing a new governor-general. The King thought it was his choice alone. He wanted Sir William Birdwood. But Scullin suggested the Australian judge Sir Isaac Isaacs. He insisted that the King act on the advice of his Australian Prime Minister. Scullin was influenced by Ireland, which always chose an Irishman as governor-general.

The British government strongly opposed Scullin's choice of Isaacs. They thought choosing governors-general was the King's decision alone. But the real reason was that they didn't think an Australian was suitable. Scullin insisted that the King must act on the Prime Minister's direct advice. He pointed to other countries that had done this.

Despite this, King George V did not want to accept Isaacs. He asked Scullin to consider Birdwood. But Scullin stood firm. He said he would fight an election on whether an Australian could be governor-general just because he was Australian. On 29 November, the King agreed to Isaacs's appointment. But he made it clear he only did so because he felt he had no choice.

This right to advise the King or Queen directly was soon used by other Prime Ministers in the British Commonwealth. This led to the Statute of Westminster 1931. It also led to the formal separation of the Crowns of the Dominions.

After Scullin lost the election in 1931, non-Labor governments still suggested British people for the job. But these choices were only between the Australian government and the King or Queen. In 1947, Labor appointed a second Australian governor-general, William McKell. He was the Labor premier of New South Wales. The opposition leader, Robert Menzies, called McKell's appointment "shocking and humiliating."

In 1965, the Menzies government appointed an Australian, Lord Casey. Since then, only Australians have held the position. However, in 2020, old documents showed that in 1976, the government thought it would be good for Prince Charles to become governor-general. But the Queen strongly disagreed. Also, in 2007, there were reports that Prince William might become governor-general. But both the Prime Minister and the royal family denied this.

Who Has Been Governor-General?

All governors-general until 1965 were born in Britain. The only exceptions were Australian-born Sir Isaac Isaacs (1931–1936) and Sir William McKell (1947–1953). Since then, only Australians have held the job. Sir Ninian Stephen (1982–1989) was born in Britain, but was an Australian citizen. Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, was a senior member of the royal family. Dame Quentin Bryce (2008–2014) was the first woman to be appointed. Sir Isaac Isaacs and Sir Zelman Cowen were Jewish. Bill Hayden was an atheist during his term. He made an affirmation instead of an oath. Most other governors-general have been Christian.

Many governors-general had previously served as governors of an Australian state or colony. Others had been leading politicians or judges.