The Governor-General is the Queen’s representative in Australia.
As such, the Governor-General represents the Queen as Head of State in Australia.
In practice, the position of Governor-General is an appointment made by the prime minister of the day. The prime minister advises the Queen to make the appointment. As a constitutional monarch, the Queen will always accept that advice.

Governor-General David Hurley
David Hurley, the former Governor of New South Wales, and a retired general, has been Governor-General since July 1, 2019. He succeeded Sir Peter Cosgrove, also a former army general, who held the post since March 28, 2014. Cosgrove, in turn, succeeded the first female Governor-General, Dame Quentin Bryce, who held office between 2008 and 2014.
There have been 27 Governors-General of Australian since Federation in 1901. The first Australian born holder of the office was Sir Isaac Isaacs in 1931.
Several former politicians have been appointed Governor-General: William McKell (1941, former ALP Premier of N.S.W.), Lord Casey (1965, Liberal minister under Menzies), Paul Hasluck (1969, Liberal minister under Menzies, Holt & Gorton) and Bill Hayden (1989, ALP minister under Whitlam and Hawke).
According to Section 2 of the Constitution:
A Governor-General appointed by the Queen shall be Her Majesty’s representative in the Commonwealth, and shall have and may exercise in the Commonwealth during the Queen’s pleasure, but subject to this Constitution, such powers and functions of the Queen as Her Majesty may be pleased to assign to him.
In practice, the Governor-General is appointed by the Prime Minister of the day. For example, the incumbent, David Hurley, was appointed by Scott Morrison. His predecessor, Peter Cosgrove, was appointed by Prime Minister Abbott. Cosgrove’s predecessor, Quentin Bryce, was appointed by Prime Minister Rudd, whilst Michael Jeffery and Peter Hollingworth were appointed by Prime Minister Howard. Sir William Deane was appointed by Prime Minister Keating, and his predecessor, Bill Hayden, was appointed by Prime Minister Hawke. In all cases, the appointment was made personally by the Prime Minister. In 1999, Bob Hawke admitted that he did not even consult his Cabinet before making the appointment.
Technically, the appointment is made by “advice” to the Queen. Whilst early Governors-General were appointed directly from Britain, since the 1930s appointments have been made by the government of the day. This followed a major confrontation with the British government in the early 1930s over the appointment of the first Australian-born Governor-General, Sir Isaac Isaacs.
- Full List of Governors-General since 1901
- Letters Patent – the official instructions given to the Governor-General by the Queen, last modified in 1984.
- The Queen’s Role in Australia – an official statement from Buckingham Palace, setting out the Queen’s place in the Australian constitutional structure.
Roles and Powers of the Governor-General
- The Role of the Governor-General – an official statement from Buckingham Palace.
- Powers – a complete list of all the constitutional references to the Governor-General.
- The Executive Council and the Governor-General
- Royal Assent to Legislation – the role of the Queen and the Governor-General in the passage of legislation by the Australian Parliament.
- Whitlam Dismissal – detailed coverage of the controversy over the powers of the Governor-General in dismissing Gough Whitlam on November 11, 1975.
- Apr 4, 2001: Defence Minister Peter Reith Discusses Governor-General’s Role As Commander-In-Chief
- Jan 01, 2003: Information on WA Governor’s Role
The Rise and Fall of Archbishop Dr. Peter Hollingworth, 23rd Governor-General Of Australia – Dr. Hollingworth became Governor-General in 2001 but was besieged for most of his term over his handling of child abuse allegations in the Anglican archdiocese of Brisbane when he was Archbishop. Allegations of rape, subsequently withdrawn, led to Hollingworth’s resignation in 2003. He served just 23 months in the position.
Opening Parliament
One of the main ceremonial duties of the Governor-General is to open the proceedings of the Commonwealth Parliament following each election. The Governor-General summons members of the House of Representatives to the Senate chamber and delivers a speech prepared by the government.
Opening Parliament
- Jun 21, 2019: Election Officially Over As Writs Returned By AEC
- Jun 19, 2019: Governor-General Summons 46th Parliament For July 2 Meeting
- Aug 30, 2016: Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove’s Speech Opening The 45th Parliament
- Aug 30, 2016: 45th Parliament Opens; Members And Senators Sworn In; House Speaker And Senate President Re-Elected Unopposed
- Apr 15, 2016: Parliament Prorogued; New Session Starts On Monday
- Jul 07, 2014: Senators Sworn In; New Balance Of Power As 2013 Federal Election Finally Complete
- Nov 12, 2013: Governor-General Quentin Bryce Opens 44th Parliament
- May 08, 2013: Queen’s Speech At State Opening Of U.K. Parliament
- Nov 16, 2004: Governor-General’s Address Opening The 41st Parliament
- Feb 12, 2002: Governor-General’s Speech Opening The 40th Parliament
- May 09, 2001: Centenary Of Federation To Be Celebrated In Melbourne
- May 08, 1990: Governor-General Bill Hayden Opens The 36th Parliament
- Sep 14, 1987: Governor-General’s Speech Opening Parliament: 1987
- Feb 21, 1985: Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen Opens The 34th Parliament
- Apr 21, 1983: Governor-General’s Speech Opening Parliament: 1983
- Feb 17, 1976: Sir John Kerr Opens The 30th Parliament
- Feb 27, 1973: Governor-General Sir Paul Hasluck Opens The 28th Parliament
Archived Posts
- Jul 01, 2019: Morrison, Albanese And Hurley Speak Following G-G Swearing-In
- Jul 01, 2019: David Hurley Sworn In As 27th Governor-General Of Australia
- Jun 21, 2019: Election Officially Over As Writs Returned By AEC
- Jun 19, 2019: Governor-General Summons 46th Parliament For July 2 Meeting
- Aug 30, 2016: Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove’s Speech Opening The 45th Parliament
- Aug 30, 2016: 45th Parliament Opens; Members And Senators Sworn In; House Speaker And Senate President Re-Elected Unopposed
- Aug 18, 2016: Long Tan Commemoration: Cosgrove And Turnbull Pay Tribute On 50th Anniversary Of Vietnam Battle
- Aug 08, 2016: Writs Returned And The 2016 Federal Election Is Officially Over
- Jul 11, 2016: Governor-General Acts On Prime Minister Turnbull’s Advice; Caretaker Period Ends
- Jun 13, 2016: Political Figures Feature In Queen’s Birthday Honours
- May 09, 2016: Australian Parliament Dissolved; Governor-General’s Official Secretary Reads Proclamation
- May 08, 2016: Government House Releases Double Dissolution Documents
- May 08, 2016: Malcolm Turnbull Formally Announces July 2 Double Dissolution Election
- Apr 15, 2016: Parliament Prorogued; New Session Starts On Monday
- Mar 21, 2016: Turnbull Recalls Parliament On April 18 And Moves Budget To May 3; Threatens Double Dissolution On July 2 If Bills Not Passed
- Feb 18, 2016: Administrative Arrangements Order – Amendments
- Feb 18, 2016: Turnbull’s New Ministers Sworn In; Joyce Now Deputy PM
- Sep 26, 2014: My Story: Julia Gillard’s Book Launched By Quentin Bryce
- Jul 07, 2014: Senators Sworn In; New Balance Of Power As 2013 Federal Election Finally Complete
- Mar 25, 2014: Dame Quentin Bryce, 25th Governor-General Of Australia, Farewelled In Canberra
- Mar 25, 2014: Arise Dame Quentin And Sir Peter: Abbott Reintroduces Knights And Dames For “Pre-Eminent Australians”
- Jan 28, 2014: General Peter Cosgrove Appointed Governor-General
- Dec 26, 2013: General Peter Cosgrove Reportedly Abbott’s Choice For Next Governor-General
- Nov 24, 2013: Governor-General Quentin Bryce Calls For A Republic And Same-Sex Marriage
- Nov 12, 2013: Governor-General Quentin Bryce Opens 44th Parliament
- Nov 04, 2013: Governor-General’s Proclamation Summoning Parliament
- Oct 13, 2013: Abbott Rejects Governor-General’s Offer To Resign Over Shorten
- Sep 18, 2013: Tony Abbott Sworn In As Australia’s 28th Prime Minister
- Sep 17, 2013: Why Is Kevin Rudd Still Prime Minister?
- Jun 27, 2013: Kevin Rudd Sworn In For Second Time As Prime Minister Of Australia
- May 25, 2013: Would A Double Dissolution In Early 2014 Be Unconstitutional?
- Feb 23, 2013: Gareth Evans Maintains The Rage
- Dec 18, 2012: Rupert Murdoch Eulogises His Mother At Memorial Service In Melbourne
- Aug 30, 2012: Five Australian Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan
- Apr 25, 2012: Governor-General Quentin Bryce’s ANZAC Day Address
- Dec 13, 2011: Sir Zelman Cowen Eulogised By Josh Frydenberg
- Dec 09, 2011: Sir Zelman Cowen, Governor-General After Kerr, Dies, 92
- Nov 02, 2010: Americain: Governor-General Presents 2010 Melbourne Cup
- Jul 19, 2010: Dissolutions, Prorogations and a Mea Culpa
- Feb 22, 2009: National Day Of Mourning Service For Bushfire Victims
- Feb 05, 2008: Governor-General Attacked And Defended
- Jan 20, 2008: Rudd Rules Out Beazley As Governor-General
- Dec 03, 2007: Kevin Rudd Sworn In As Australia’s 26th Prime Minister
- Apr 25, 2007: Governor-General Michael Jeffery’s ANZAC Day Address
- Dec 26, 2005: Governor-General Visits Troops In Iraq, Afghanistan And Persian Gulf
- Jun 13, 2005: Queen’s Birthday Honours Released
- Apr 03, 2005: Governor-General Comments On The Death Of Pope John Paul II
- Jan 26, 2005: Governor-General Michael Jeffery’s Australia Day Address
- Nov 16, 2004: Governor-General’s Address Opening The 41st Parliament
- Oct 26, 2004: Fourth Howard Ministry Sworn In
- Apr 14, 2004: Jeffery (You Know, The G-G) Finally Gets Something To Do
- Sep 08, 2003: Governor-General’s Salary And Pension
- Jun 22, 2003: Official Biography Of Major-General Michael Jeffery
- Jun 22, 2003: John Howard’s Press Conference Announcing Major-General Michael Jeffery As Next Governor-General
- Jun 22, 2003: Howard Announces Appointment of Major-General Michael Jeffery As New Governor-General
- May 28, 2003: Governor-General Peter Hollingworth’s Farewell Address
- May 25, 2003: HOLLINGWORTH RESIGNS
- May 23, 2003: Democrats Renew Call For Royal Commission On Child Abuse
- May 23, 2003: Greens Condemn Howard Over Hollingworth
- May 23, 2003: Hollingworth Rape Case Withdrawn: Governor-General “Giving Proper Consideration To My Long-Term Future”
- May 11, 2003: Step Out Not Down: Bob Brown
- May 11, 2003: Governor-General Peter Hollingworth Stands Aside
- May 08, 2003: Crean Reiterates Call For Hollingworth To Resign
- May 08, 2003: Hollingworth Denies Rape Allegation
- May 04, 2003: No Grounds For Terminating Governor-General: Howard
- May 02, 2003: Howard In USA; Fields Questions On Hollingworth
- May 01, 2003: Democrats Call On Hollingworth To Step Down
- May 01, 2003: Howard Says He Has No Regrets About Hollingworth
- May 01, 2003: ALP Calls For Hollingworth To Resign
- Jan 01, 2003: Western Australian Governor John Sanderson’s Appointment Extended
- Dec 25, 2002: 2002 Christmas Messages: Howard, Crean And Hollingworth
- Oct 04, 2002: Governor-General Hollingworth Appears To Side With Howard Over A Just War
- Apr 02, 2002: Howard’s Flimsy Reasons For Attending Queen Mother’s Funeral
- Mar 03, 2002: Keating Attacks Howard Over Handling Of Hollingworth Controversy
- Mar 03, 2002: Keating: Howard Government Attacks Australia’s Great National Institutions
- Feb 26, 2002: Hollingworth Issues Third Statement Following New Questions
- Feb 25, 2002: Howard Continues To Back Hollingworth
- Feb 24, 2002: Hollingworth Issues Another Statement Responding To Allegations
- Feb 21, 2002: Howard: A Constitutional Earthquake To Sack A Governor-General
- Feb 21, 2002: Crean: Howard Should Advise The Queen To Terminate Hollingworth’s Appointment
- Feb 21, 2002: John Howard’s Press Conference In Support Of The Governor-General
- Feb 21, 2002: Constitutional Crisis: Hollingworth Apologises, Then Flies To New Zealand; Crean Calls On Howard To Sack Governor-General
- Feb 21, 2002: Governor-General Peter Hollingworth’s Statement And Apology Regarding Handling Of Child Sex Abuse Allegations
- Feb 21, 2002: Peter Beattie Calls For Governor-General To Stand Aside
- Feb 21, 2002: Howard Confronts Crises Over Children Overboard And Governor-General
- Feb 20, 2002: Peter Beattie Says Hollingworth’s Position Must Be Resolved Before CHOGM
- Feb 20, 2002: Sexual Abuse: Statement By The Governor-General
- Feb 20, 2002: Hollingworth Unlikely To Survive
- Feb 19, 2002: Howard Grilled At Lively Press Conference; Tense Mood In Question Time
- Feb 19, 2002: John Howard Press Conference: Asylum Seekers, Defence Photos,Governor-General, SA Election
- Feb 12, 2002: Governor-General’s Speech Opening The 40th Parliament
- Dec 24, 2001: Toowoomba Preparatory School: Statement By Governor-General Peter Hollingworth
- Dec 21, 2001: Howard Defends Hollingworth
- Dec 19, 2001: Toowoomba Preparatory School: Statement by Governor-General Peter Hollingworth
- Oct 05, 2001: Howard Sees Governor-General; Election Looms
- May 09, 2001: Australian Parliament’s Centenary Celebrated; Howard Praises Curtin & Menzies; Beazley Calls For Republic
- May 09, 2001: Sir William Deane’s Speech On the Centenary of the Australian Parliament
- Apr 23, 2001: Archbishop Peter Hollingworth’s Media Conference On His Appointment As Governor-General
- Apr 22, 2001: Archbishop Peter Hollingworth Appointed Governor-General: Palace Announcement
- Apr 22, 2001: Anglican Archbishop Peter Hollingworth Appointed Next Governor-General
- Apr 22, 2001: John Howard’s Press Conference Announcing Peter Hollingworth As Governor-General
- Apr 22, 2001: Australia’s New Governor-General: Official Announcement
- Apr 04, 2001: Defence Minister’s Address To The Australian College Of Defence And Strategic Studies
- Jan 01, 2001: Sir William Deane: Centenary Of Federation Speech
- Jan 01, 2001: Sir William Deane: Centenary Of Federation Speech
- Jan 01, 2001: Federation Commemoration Underway In Sydney
- Sep 15, 2000: Cathy Freeman Lights Flame At Olympic Games Opening Ceremony
- Aug 08, 2000: Governor-General’s Term Extended by Six Months
- Aug 08, 2000: John Landy Appointed New Victorian Governor
- May 27, 2000: Governor-General Sir William Deane’s Address To Corroboree 2000
- Nov 10, 1999: Queen’s Representative To Open Olympic Games
- Nov 03, 1999: John Howard’s 2UE Radio Interview with John Laws
- Apr 09, 1991: Keating And Hewson Exchange Words Over Death Of Kerr
- May 08, 1990: Governor-General Bill Hayden Opens The 36th Parliament
- Jun 30, 1989: Governor-General Bill Hayden Interviewed By Laurie Oakes
- Sep 14, 1987: Governor-General’s Speech Opening Parliament: 1987
- Feb 21, 1985: Governor-General Sir Ninian Stephen Opens The 34th Parliament
- Aug 21, 1984: Letters Patent 1984: Governor-General
- Apr 21, 1983: Governor-General’s Speech Opening Parliament: 1983
- Feb 03, 1983: Fraser Calls Early Election As Hawke Replaces Hayden
- Nov 01, 1977: Sir John Kerr Drunk At The Melbourne Cup
- Aug 01, 1977: Sir John Kerr Booed By Crowd In South Australia
- Sep 15, 1976: Sir John Kerr Speech Extract
- Feb 17, 1976: Sir John Kerr Opens The 30th Parliament
- Apr 11, 1974: Sir Paul Hasluck’s 1974 Proclamation Dissolving Parliament
- Feb 27, 1973: Governor-General Sir Paul Hasluck Opens The 28th Parliament
- Mar 19, 1951: 1951 Double Dissolution Correspondence: Menzies And McKell