Key Points
- Former lawyer Samantha Mostyn has been appointed as Australia's 28th governor-general.
- She will be sworn in on 1 July.
- Mostyn will be the second female governor-general in Australia's history.
Samantha Mostyn has been appointed as Australia's 28th governor-general.
She will be sworn in on 1 July, when current Governor-General David Hurley will conclude his appointment.
Mostyn, who has had a long career in law and business, was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia in 2021 for "distinguished service to business, community and women".
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Mostyn as "a modern and optimistic leader for our modern and optimistic nation".
"Her leadership reflects our enduring Australian values of equality, fairness and a responsibility to build a better future for the next generation".
Who is Samantha Mostyn?
Mostyn has a history of public service and has been an outspoken gender equality advocate and champion of fighting climate change.
She will be the second woman in Australian history to hold the post of governor-general,
Mostyn has a history of public service, chairing multiple not-for-profit boards including Beyond Blue, the Foundation for Young Australians and Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety.
Incoming governor general Samantha Mostyn and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday. Source: AAP / Mick Tsikas
Mostyn is a lawyer by trade and served as an associate in the Court of Appeals of the NSW Supreme Court, before working for Sydney law firms.
She has an extensive career in the Australian business world, working in the telecommunications and insurance industry. She has held senior positions with Virgin Australia and Transurban and has been chair of Citibank Australia.
Albanese pointed out that Mostyn also served as the first woman appointed as commissioner for the AFL and was a "strong advocate" for the creation of the women's AFL competition.
In 2020 Mostyn was awarded by the United Nations for her work advancing "sustainable development as defined by the UN and her leadership in the areas of diversity and inclusion in Australia".
She has also spent much of her career focusing on sustainability and climate change, winning recognition at the 2019 Investor Group on Climate Change awards.
What has been the reaction to Mostyn's appointment?
Independent MP for Warringah Zali Steggall congratulated Mostyn on X, formerly Twitter, calling her a "true leader who has fearlessly and compassionately advocated for climate action, diversity and equality".
Associate dean at UTS Business, Professor Nareen Young, celebrated her colleague and "longtime ally, diversity and First Nations champion, woman of decency, compassion and humility" being given the role.
Fellow Order of Australia recipient Lucy Turnbull also celebrated on X, calling the appointment a "great choice".
Labor MP Andrew Leigh called Mostyn a "a driving force for inclusion and equality in business and sport" declaring she would be a "remarkable" governor-general.
Several organisations celebrated the news, including Women for Election, FutureWomen and the Australian Council for International Development.
What does a governor-general do?
The governor-general operates as a representative of the Australian monarchy — in this case, King Charles III — and is the figure .
The role of the governor-general is of a de facto head of state carrying out the ceremonial day-to-day duties on behalf of the King.
They are one of three elements that comprise a Commonwealth parliament.
A governor-general's powers include summoning, proroguing and dissolving parliament; recommending appropriations; assenting to Bills and issuing writs for general elections.
They are also responsible for appointing and dismissing ministers; submitting proposals for referendums; making proclamations and regulations; and establishing departments of state and making statutory appointments.
Do other countries have a governor-general?
Most countries that remain a part of the Commonwealth retain a governor-general — including Canada, New Zealand, Jamaica, Tuvalu and more.
In the past, governors-general were British appointees, but that practice has long been abandoned.
Canada and New Zealand both have Indigenous women serving as their governor-general, while Australia has never had an Indigenous person serve in the position.
