I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is such a pleasure to be here with you on this momentous day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I thank all the members of the diplomatic corps and all members of the Australian Defence Force who have joined us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I also thank my parliamentary colleagues and, of course, the reason we are here: our new Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, and her husband, Simeon Beckett.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The swearing in of a Governor-General is a bright moment in the life our nation, but it is not one we approach lightly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We are a young nation on an ancient continent \u2013 yet the democracy that has defined us for 123 years is numbered among the world\u2019s oldest, and the Governor-General has always been at the heart of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is high office, but it is not lofty. For all the pomp of its origins, the role of Governor-General is one that has become firmly rooted among the Australian people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the course of their duties, a Governor-General meets so many Australians from so many different walks of life, and in so many different circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Governor-General stands by us, celebrating our good times, and offering comfort and quiet strength during our times of trial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And while guided by tradition, it is not blind to the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the years, we have seen different Governors-General applying an emphasis of their own choosing, whether it was Sir Ninian Stephens with his touch of healing, Sir Zelman Cowen\u2019s vision of the Governor-General as interpreter of a nation, or Dame Quentin Bryce and her desire \u201cto strike a balance between observing traditions and protocol and being thoroughly contemporary\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the past week, we have expressed our admiration for the retiring Governor-General and Her Excellency, Mrs Hurley, and the great calibre of their contribution. They go with the thanks of a nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, we begin a new chapter with Australia\u2019s 28th Governor-General, Sam Mostyn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We share the great fortune of living in a modern and optimistic nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A nation made generous and courageous by its people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Sam Mostyn, our nation has the right leader.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sam, you are a person of intelligence and compassion. Of loyalty and integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have clear eyes and a big heart \u2013 and both have shaped your vision of who and what we can be as a nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Throughout your life, and across your great breadth of experience in the worlds of law and business and sport, in corporate Australia and the not-for-profit sector, you have always been ready to put yourself forward for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They are the qualities that she will bring to representing our nation as Governor-General.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have walked the talk, a human catalyst with an unrelenting capacity for making things happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have blazed so many trails for women. You have pushed open the doors of opportunity and equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have made a real difference for Indigenous Australians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You have added to the environmental and cultural health of our nation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For decades you have been driven by a desire to make a difference in the lives of your fellow Australians \u2013 now, and for future generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The very sense of fairness that is the beating heart of our identity as Australians is something you embody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1999, the Australian Financial Review described you as \u201cbound for glory\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yet glory is something you have never sought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2019, your good friend, the playwright Suzie Miller, had this to say of you: \u201cShe inspires me. I wish she would be less modest.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While Suzie\u2019s wish may never be granted, she is one more reminder of how profoundly you value and nurture friendship \u2013 and everything that true friendship means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I am glad you have Simeon with you on this journey. As a public law barrister who has worked in many crucial realms, he too has made a positive difference in the lives of so many.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together, you are a truly wonderful partnership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your Excellency, you have lived your life in the service of a powerful Australian principle: when more people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, our nation is a better place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With you as Governor-General, our future is in good hands.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I begin by acknowledging the traditional owners of the land on which we meet, and I pay my respects to elders past, present and emerging. It is such a pleasure to be here with you on this momentous day. I thank all the members of the diplomatic corps and all members of the Australian Defence … Continue reading “Swearing in of the 28th Governor-General”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-27573","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-aussie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27573","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=27573"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27573\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27574,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/27573\/revisions\/27574"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=27573"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=27573"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.16news.com.au\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=27573"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}