Key Takeaways
- Australia’s 28th governor-general, Samantha Mostyn, has been sworn in to represent the British monarch.
- Samantha Mostyn vows to bring kindness, care, and respect to the role, emphasizing the importance of these values in these challenging times.
- The governor-general plays a vital role in Australia’s government, performing constitutional duties such as appointing the prime minister and ordering elections.
Canberra: Australia’s new governor-general has been sworn in as the official representative of the British monarch in the country.
Samantha Mostyn was on Monday sworn in as Australia’s 28th governor-general at an official ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra.
A prominent business and community leader, Mostyn becomes the second woman to serve as Australia’s governor-general.
Speaking after the ceremony, she vowed to bring kindness, care and respect to the role.
“These testing times call for an unstinting focus on kindness, on care and on respect,” Mostyn said.
“I will be an optimistic, modern and visible governor-general, committed to the service and contribution that all Australians expect and deserve from the holder of this office.”
The governor-general represents the British monarch and plays a crucial role in Australia’s government. Key responsibilities include appointing the prime minister and other ministers, as well as ordering elections and giving royal assent to passed bills.
PM Anthony Albanese announced in April that Mostyn would replace David Hurley, whose five-year term ended on Sunday.
Mostyn, 59, started her career as a lawyer before serving on the boards of several companies, including NGOs the Climate Council and mental health support organization Beyond Blue.
Prior to being appointed as the governor-general, she was the chair of the government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce.
She said on Monday that Australia is facing great difficulties in climate change, the cost-of-living crisis and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic but that she feels tremendous optimism about the country’s future.
