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au
FACT SHEETS
GOVERNOR-GENERAL
According to section 2 of the Australian Constitution, the Governor-General is
appointed by the Queen to be Her Majestys representative in Australia. They are
appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, usually for a term of ve
years. The Governor-General has some of the responsibility for ensuring that Australia
is governed according to the rules set out in the Constitution.
Australia is a constitutional monarchy, which means that the
Queen is our head of state. However, as the Queen lives in
Britain, her powers are delegated to the Governor-General who
lives in Australia. Together with the Senate and the House of
Representatives, the Governor-General is a part of Australias
Parliament. The Governor-General does not have the authority
to make decisions on behalf of the government, but rather
oversees the work of the government and the Parliament.
The Governor-General is not part of the government or
the opposition and must remain neutral. Whenever the
Governor-General makes a public statement, they avoid
personal opinions and do not comment on political and
othercontroversies.
Constitutional role
Section 1 of the Australian Constitution states that the
Parliament shall consist of the Queen, a Senate, and a
House of Representatives. Section 61 of the Constitution
goes on to state that the executive power of the
Commonwealth is vested in the Queen and is exercisable
by the Governor-General as the Queens representative.
These provisions mean that the Governor-General is a part
of the Parliament and carries out tasks on behalf of the
Queen. TheConstitution sets out some specic tasks for
theGovernor-General, including:
giving Royal Assent (approval) to a bill passed by the
House of Representatives and the Senate. The Governor-
General may recommend changes to a bill; however, no
Governor-General has ever refused to give Royal Assent
starting the process for a federal election
(see Preparing for a New Parliament)
appointing times for sessions of Parliament to be held
convening a joint sitting of Parliament
(see Double Dissolution)
acting as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian
DefenceForce.
Ceremonial role
The Governor-Generals ceremonial and constitutional roles
are closely related. The Governor-Generals ceremonial
dutiesinclude:
attending the opening of a new federal Parliament and
making a speech about what the new government intends
to do
administering the oath of ofce to the Prime Minister,
ministers, judges and other ofcials
meeting foreign heads of state and ambassadors
attending Anzac Day ceremonies
awarding special honours, in their role as the Chancellor
ofthe Order of Australia.
Civic role
The Governor-General is in constant contact with the
Australian people. These duties include:
opening and attending national and international meetings
and conferences
attending exhibitions and sporting events
attending functions of as an ofcial patron of organisations
visiting regions or areas to meet people involved in a
particular group or industry
visiting places hit by national disaster, such as oods or re.
The Governor-General signing a bill
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FACT SHEETS produced by the Parliamentary Education Ofce | www.peo.gov.au
GOVERNOR-GENERAL FACT SHEETS
History
Australia has had 26 Governors-General.
The rst was the Right Honourable John Adrian Louis Hope,
7th Earl of Hopetoun, who served from 1901 to 1903. The rst
Australian-born Governor-General was the Right Honourable
Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs, who served from 1931 to 1936.
The current Governor-General is His Excellency General the
Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd).
TERM NAME
20082014 Bryce, The Honourable Dame Quentin Alice,
AD, CVO
20032008 Jefery, Major General Michael, AC, CVO, MC
20012003 Hollingworth, The Right Reverend Dr Peter,
AC OBE
19962001 Deane, The Honourable Sir William Patrick,
AC, KBE
19891996 Hayden, The Honourable William George, AC
19821989 Stephen, Rt Hon. Sir Ninian, KG, AK, GCMG,
GCVO, KBE, QC
19771982 Cowen, Rt Hon. Sir Zelman, AK, GCMG,
GCVO, QC
19741977 Kerr, Rt Hon. Sir John Robert, AK, GCMG,
GCVO, QC
19691974 Rt Hon Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck,
KG, GCMG, GCVO
19651969 Casey, Rt Hon Richard Gardiner, Baron Casey,
KG, GCMG, CH, DSO, MC, PC
19611965 De LIsle, Rt Hon William Philip Sidney, lst
Viscount De LIsle, VC, KG, GCMG, GCVO, PC
19601961 Morrison, Rt Hon William Shepherd, 1st
Viscount Dunrossil, GCMG, MC, QC, PC
19531960 Slim, Field Marshal Sir William Joseph, 1st
Viscount Slim (Yarralumla and Bishopston),
KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC
19471953 McKell, Rt Hon Sir William John, GCMG, PC
19451947 Henry, Duke of Gloucester, HRH Prince Henry
William Frederick Albert, Earl of Ulster and
Baron Culloden, KG, KT, KP, GCB, GCMG,
GCVO
TERM NAME
19361945 Hore-Ruthven, Brigadier General the Rt Hon
Alexander Gore Arkwright, lst Baron Gowrie,
VC, GCMG, CB, DSO, PC
19311936 Isaacs, Rt Hon Sir Isaac Alfred, GCB, GCMG, PC
19251931 Baird, Rt Hon John Lawrence, 1st Baron
Stonehaven, GCMG, DSO, PC, JP, DL
19201925 Forster, Rt Hon Henry William, lst Baron
Forster, GCMG, PC, DL
19141920 Munro-Ferguson, Rt Hon Sir Ronald Craufurd,
GCMG, PC
19111914 Denman, Rt Hon Thomas, 3rd Baron Denman,
GCMG, KCVO, PC, JP
19081911 Ward, Rt Hon William Humble, 2nd Earl of
Dudley, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, TD, PC
19041908 Northcote, Rt Hon Henry Staford, 1st Baron
Northcote, GCMG, GCIE, CB, PC
19031904 Tennyson, Rt Hon Hallam, 2nd Baron
Tennyson, GCMG, PC
19011903 Hope, Rt Hon John Adrian Louis, 7th Earl of
Hopetoun, KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC
Source: Governor-Generals website
www.gg.gov.au/content.php/category/id/7/title/former-governors-general
LINKS
PEO website
Fact Sheet: Australian Constitution
www.peo.gov.au/learning/fact-sheets/australian-constitution.html
APH website
H of R Infosheet: The Australian system of government
www.tinyurl.com/Infosheet20
Other websites
Governor-Generals website
www.gg.gov.au
The Governor-General engaging in ofcial duties
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