Governor of Queensland facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Governor of Queensland
Flag of the governor
Incumbent Jeannette Young AC PSM since 1 November 2021
Viceregal
Style	Her Excellency the Honourable
Residence	Government House, Brisbane
Appointer	Monarch on the advice of the premier (by commission under the royal sign-manual)
Term length	At His Majesty's pleasure (typically 5 years)
Formation	10 December 1859
First holder	Sir George Bowen
Salary	£5,000 (1900) A$488,686 (2019)

The governor of Queensland is the King's representative in the state of Queensland. Just like the Governor-General at the national level, the governor handles important duties for the state. These duties include both official government tasks and special ceremonies.

The governor has the power to choose and remove the premier of Queensland and all other ministers. They also announce when elections will be held for the state parliament.

The current governor of Queensland is Jeannette Young. She used to be Queensland's top health officer. She started her role on 1 November 2021.

If the governor is away, the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland steps in. Currently, this is Helen Bowskill. In 2014, Queen Elizabeth II decided that all past, present, and future governors would be called The Honourable forever.

Where the Governor Lives: Government House

The governor has lived at Government House, Brisbane since 1910. This large house is also known as Fernberg. It sits on 14 hectares (about 35 acres) of gardens and bushland in Brisbane.

The first Government House was built specifically for the governor. It was used from 1862 to 1910. This old building is still around today. You can find it on the grounds of Queensland University of Technology's city campus.

How the Governor's Role Works

The job of the governor was first created by special documents from Queen Victoria in 1867. These documents are called letters patent. Over time, the rules for the governor's powers were put into Queensland laws.

The Constitution Act 2001 brought all these rules together. This means the governor's role is now fully defined by Australian law.

Usually, the governor always follows the advice of the elected government's leader, the Premier of Queensland. This is part of the Westminster system of government. However, the governor has some special powers they can use in rare situations. These are called reserve powers.

The Queensland Constitution clearly states that the governor can choose or remove ministers without being told what to do by anyone. They can also get advice from anyone they wish. This rule was added after a big political event in 1975.

This rule was tested in 1987. The premier at the time, Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen, tried to remove some ministers. But the governor, Sir Walter Campbell, did not agree. When the National Party chose a new leader, Bjelke-Petersen eventually resigned.

The governor also leads the Executive Council of Queensland. This council is like a special meeting group for the government ministers. The governor appoints judges for Queensland's courts. They do this based on the advice of the Executive Council.

The Governor's Special Flag

Queensland

Standard of the governor of Queensland
Use	Other
Proportion	1:2
Adopted	1876; 149 years ago (1876)
Design	A Union Flag defaced with the state badge of Queensland surrounded by wreath of laurels

The governor has a special flag called a "standard." It has a Union Jack (the UK flag) in the corner. In the middle, there's a white circle with Queensland's badge. This badge is a light blue Maltese cross with a royal crown on top. It's surrounded by laurel leaves.

The general design for British governors' flags was approved in 1869. Queensland's specific design has been used since 1876. That's when the Maltese cross became the symbol for the colony.

If this flag is flying at Government House, on a car, or at an event, it means the governor is there.

Past and present standards of the governor

• 

  1876–1963, with a Tudor crown

• 

  1963–present, with a St. Edward's crown

Who Has Been Governor of Queensland?

The first Australian-born Governor of Queensland was Lieutenant-General Sir John Lavarack. He was appointed in 1946. His successor, Sir Henry Abel Smith, was British. All governors after him have been Australian-born. The only exception is Leneen Forde, who was born in Canada but moved to Australia when she was young.

Before Queensland became its own state in 1859, it was part of New South Wales. It was governed by the governors of New South Wales.

There have been 26 governors before the current one.

No.	Portrait	Title Governor Office (Birth–Death)	Term of office		Monarch
1		The Right Honourable Sir George Bowen GCMG (1821–1899)	10 December 1859	4 January 1868	Victoria (1837–1901)
			8 years and 26 days
2		Colonel the Honourable Samuel Blackall (1809–1871)	14 August 1868	2 January 1871
			2 years and 142 days
3		The Right Honourable George Phipps Earl of Mulgrave GCB, GCMG (1819–1890)	12 August 1871	12 November 1874
			3 years and 93 days
4		The Honourable Sir William Cairns KCMG (1828–1888)	23 January 1875	14 March 1877
			2 years and 51 days
5		The Honourable Sir Arthur Kennedy GCMG, CB (1809–1883)	20 July 1877	2 May 1883
			5 years and 287 days
6		The Honourable Sir Anthony Musgrave GCMG (1828–1888)	6 November 1883	9 October 1888
			4 years and 339 days
7		Field Marshal the Honourable Sir Henry Norman GCB, GCMG, CIE (1826–1904)	1 May 1889	31 December 1895
			6 years and 245 days
8		The Right Honourable Charles Cochrane-Baillie 2nd Baron Lamington (1860–1940)	9 April 1896	19 December 1901
			5 years and 255 days		Edward VII (1901–1910)
9		Lieutenant General the Honourable Sir Herbert Chermside GCMG, CB (1850–1929)	24 March 1902	10 October 1904
			2 years and 201 days
10		The Honourable Frederic Thesiger 3rd Baron Chelmsford KCMG (1868–1933)	30 November 1905	26 May 1909
			3 years and 178 days
11		The Right Honourable Sir William MacGregor GCMG, CB, AM (1846–1919)	2 December 1909	16 July 1914
			4 years and 227 days		George V (1910–1936)
12		Major The Honourable Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams GCMG, CB (1858–1920)	15 March 1915	3 February 1920
			4 years and 326 days
13		Lieutenant Colonel the Honourable Sir Matthew Nathan GCMG (1862–1939)	3 December 1920	17 September 1925
			4 years and 289 days
14		Lieutenant General the Honourable Sir John Goodwin KCB, KCMG, DSO (1871–1960)	13 July 1927	7 April 1932
			4 years and 270 days
15		Lieutenant Colonel the Right Honourable Sir Leslie Wilson GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, DSO (1876–1955)	13 June 1932	23 April 1946	Edward VIII (1936)
			13 years and 315 days		George VI (1936–1952)
16		Lieutenant General the Honourable Sir John Lavarack KCMG, KCVO, KBE, CB, DSO (1885–1957)	1 October 1946	4 December 1957
			11 years and 65 days		Elizabeth II (1952–2022)
17		Colonel the Honourable Sir Henry Abel Smith KCMG, KCVO, DSO (1900–1993)	18 March 1958	18 March 1966
			8 years and 1 day
18		The Honourable Sir Alan Mansfield KCMG, KCVO (1902–1980)	21 March 1966	21 March 1972
			6 years and 1 day
19		Air Marshal the Honourable Sir Colin Hannah KCMG, KBE, CB (1914–1978)	21 March 1972	20 March 1977
			5 years and 0 days
20		Commodore the Honourable Sir James Ramsay KCMG, KCVO, CBE, DSC, RAN (1916–1986)	22 April 1977	21 July 1985
			8 years and 91 days
21		Flight Lieutenant the Honourable Sir Walter Campbell AC, QC (1921–2004)	22 July 1985	29 July 1992
			7 years and 8 days
22		The Honourable Leneen Forde AC (b. 1935)	29 July 1992	29 July 1997
			5 years and 1 day
23		Major General the Honourable Peter Arnison AC, CVO (b. 1940)	29 July 1997	29 July 2003
			6 years and 1 day
24		The Honourable Quentin Bryce AC (b. 1942)	29 July 2003	29 July 2008
			5 years and 1 day
25		The Honourable Penelope Wensley AC (b. 1946)	29 July 2008	29 July 2014
			6 years and 1 day
26		Lieutenant the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, CVO, QC (b. 1948)	29 July 2014	1 November 2021
			7 years and 96 days
27		Her Excellency the Honourable Jeannette Young AC, PSM (b. 1963)	1 November 2021	Incumbent
					Charles III (2022–present)
			3 years and 246 days

Other Important Roles: Administrators and Lieutenant-Governors

Sometimes, the governor might be away or unwell. In these cases, an Administrator or Lieutenant-Governor steps in. These people are chosen to do the governor's job temporarily. If no one is appointed, the Chief Justice of Queensland (or the next most senior judge) takes over.

Here are some of the people who have served in these important temporary roles: