The 28th governor general of Australia, Samantha Mostyn, has taken the oath of office.
The businesswoman, attorney, and former AFL commissioner was named David Hurley’s replacement in April, and she was sworn in at Parliament House today to officially take on the post.
During his inspiring inaugural address as governor-general, Mostyn urged Australians to address the challenging circumstances that some households are currently facing with compassion and unity.
“These testing times call for an unstinting focus on kindness, on care and on respect,” she stated.
“Over the course of my work, and especially in the last ten years, I have witnessed the positive power of care.
I have observed it in the transformation of workplaces, where respect and inclusion are now the norm.
“I have observed it in our refocused attention on the duties of educators, nurses, carers, volunteers, and other frontline workers—not just during the COVID-19, floods, and bushfire disasters, though those events undoubtedly contributed to it. “I have seen it in the advancement of women in all parts of society, in leadership roles, sport, in economics, our regulators, even slowly but importantly in the trades and on building sites.”
She also discussed the shared goals that Australians have for their nation.
“People frequently stop me to talk about this land they love—men, women, and frequently even children. They all wished for a better future for Australia, regardless of their diverse origins, experiences, and viewpoints,” she stated in her speech.
“A yearning for harmony and hope, a revitalised belief in the potential of the country to jointly construct the future. “It struck me that, in nearly exact words, the former governors general I met shared the same aspirations for this nation as did regular Australians.
They also served as a reminder to me that being governor general involves more than just watching Australian life; it also involves taking part in it.
“To reflect the Australian character and its fundamentally democratic spirit.”
Asserting that Mostyn is the “right leader” for Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called her a “person of intelligence and compassion, of loyalty and integrity”.
“Throughout your life and across your great breadth of experience in the worlds of law and business and sport, the not-for-profit sector, you have always been ready to put yourself forward for others,” he continued.
Mostyn is the second woman in history to hold the position of governor general. The first was Quentin Bryce, who served in that capacity from 2008 to 2014.
By profession, a lawyer, she has held positions with numerous business and public organisations, such as Optus, the Climate Council, IAG, Mirvac, and the AFL, where in 2005 she became the first female member of the athletic code’s commission.
She has been a strong supporter of gender equality, climate change action, and reconciliation.
She has also stated that she believes Australia should become a republic.
