What does the Governor General do

The Governor-General has an important role in the governing of Australia. This fact sheet introduces the constitutional, ceremonial and civic roles of the Governor-General, and the history of the position.

According to Section 2 of the Australian Constitution, the Governor-General is appointed by the Queen to be Her Majesty's representative in Australia. They are appointed on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, usually for a term of 5 years. The Governor-General has some of the responsibility for ensuring that Australia is governed according to the rules set out in the Constitution.

Constitutional monarchy

Australia is a constitutional monarchy, which means that the Queen is our head of state. However, as the Queen lives in Britain, her powers are delegated to the Governor-General who lives in Australia. Together with the Senate and the House of Representatives, the Governor-General is a part of the Australian Parliament. The Governor-General does not have the authority to make decisions on behalf of the government but has a role in both the government and the Parliament.

The Governor-General is not part of the government or the opposition and must remain neutral. Whenever the Governor-General makes a public statement, they avoid personal opinions and do not comment on political and other controversies.

Constitutional role

Section 1 of the Australian Constitution states that the Parliament 'shall consist of the Queen, a Senate, and a House of Representatives'. Section 61 of the Constitution goes on to state that 'the executive power of the Commonwealth is vested in the Queen and is exercisable by the Governor-General as the Queen's representative'. These provisions mean that the Governor-General is a part of both the Parliament and the executive government, and carries out tasks on behalf of the Queen.

The Constitution sets out some specific tasks for the Governor-General, including:

• giving Royal Assent to a bill - proposed law - passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate. The Governor-General may recommend changes to a bill; however, no Governor-General has ever refused to give Royal Assent
• starting the process for a federal election
• appointing times for sessions of Parliament to be held
• convening a joint sitting of Parliament
• acting as Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force.

Ceremonial role

The Governor-General's ceremonial and constitutional roles are closely related. The Governor-General's ceremonial duties include:

• attending the opening of a new Parliament and making a speech about what the new government intends to do
• administering the oath of office to the Prime Minister, ministers, judges and other officials
• meeting foreign heads of state and ambassadors
• attending Anzac Day ceremonies
• awarding special honours, in their role as the Chancellor of the Order of Australia.

Civic role

The Governor-General is in constant contact with the Australian people. These duties include:

• opening and attending national and international meetings and conferences
• attending exhibitions and sporting events
• attending functions as an official patron of organisations
• visiting regions or areas to meet people involved in a particular group or industry
• visiting places hit by national disaster, such as floods or fire.

The Governor-General's residences

There are 2 official residences that can be used by the Governor-General and their family:

• Government House, in Canberra.
• Admiralty House, in Sydney.

History

Australia has had 26 Governors-General.

The first Governor-General was the Right Honourable John Adrian Louis Hope, 7th Earl of Hopetoun, who served from 1901 to 1903.

The first Australian-born Governor-General was the Right Honourable Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs, who served from 1931 to 1936.

The first female Governor-General was the Honourable Dame Quentin Alice Bryce AD, CVO, who served from 2008 to 2014.

Office of the Governor-General

The Governor-General wearing a shirt and tie sits at a desk with a pen in hand. Two other men sit on the other side of the desk.

Office of the Governor-General

The Governor-General, wearing a suit and medals on the left side of his chest, talks to people in a crowd.

The Governor General represents Her Majesty The Queen at the federal level in Canada.

The office of Governor General is the oldest continuous institution in Canada and is an unbroken link with the early days of European settlement in our country. Appointed governor of New France in 1627, Samuel de Champlain was the first of 18 French governors who would hold the position in turn until 1760. From then until 1867, a total of 21 British governors and governors general held office in Canada. Until 1952, Governors General were British. The 1952 installation of Vincent Massey, the first Canadian to hold the office, reflected Canada's new sense of autonomy and identity in the post-war era and Canadian sense of pride in the Canadian Crown.

Vincent Massey's appointment was important, marking the beginning of the modern institution of the Governor General where a Canadian represents The Queen and carries out Her Majesty’s responsibilities in Canada. Since then, the role of the Governor General has evolved. The following are among the responsibilities of Canada's Governor General, all of which are undertaken in the name of The Queen:

• managing the Canadian honours system
• representing Canada abroad
• signing the letters of credence for outgoing Canadian diplomats
• signing treaties and declarations of war
• granting coats of arms to Canadians who petition to receive them 

Appointed by The Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister, the Governor General usually holds office for 5 years. Lieutenant Governors fulfill the responsibilities and functions of The Queen in the provinces in the same way that the Governor General does at the national level.

The Governor General bears the title “Excellency” during office, along with his or her spouse, and carries the title “Right Honourable” for life.

For more details, consult the Governor General of Canada’s website.

The role and responsibilities of the Governor General

In 1947, "Letters Patent Constituting the Office of the Governor General of Canada" (under King George VI) authorized the Governor General to exercise most of the Crown's powers on behalf of the Sovereign.

The Governor General has important parliamentary responsibilities:

• summoning, proroguing and dissolving Parliament
• setting out the government’s program by reading the Speech from the Throne
• giving Royal Assent, which brings parliamentary bills into law

The Governor General is also Commander-in-Chief of Canada. He or she visits military bases and honours Canadian military personnel on behalf of The Queen.

The Governor General also fulfills important ceremonial duties:

• promoting a sense of identity
• recognizing the achievements of outstanding Canadians
• receiving foreign dignitaries
• travelling overseas as the representative of Canada
• hosting and taking part in official events

Installation of a Governor General

The installation of a new Governor General is intended to officially mark his or her assumption of office, replacing the outgoing Governor General. It is an historic event which represents the most important state ceremony within Canada's constitutional and ceremonial structure.

Typically taking place in the Senate chamber of the Parliament of Canada in Ottawa, each installation ceremony is unique and reflects the preferences of the individuals involved and the ongoing evolution of the office of the Governor General.

The main element of the installation ceremony is the moment when the new Governor General takes the oath of allegiance. The chief justice or other senior judge of the Supreme Court of Canada administers this oath.

Another important element of the installation is the Governor General's first address to the nation. This speech will set out the Governor General's vision for his or her term of office in bringing to life the important and ongoing role of the Canadian Crown in the life of our country and its citizens.

Find out more about installations of governors general in recent history:

The Governor General Designate

The Governor General Designate is the person who has been appointed as Governor General, but who has not yet been sworn-in.

During the transition period, the Governor General Designate undertakes a series of briefings with various members of government, ensuring he or she will be able to step into the role of Governor General without difficulty.

The Administrator of the Government

Under exceptional circumstances, it is possible for the Governor General to be absent or for the position of Governor General to be temporarily vacant. In such cases, the “Letters Patent Constituting the Office of the Governor General of Canada” (1947) stipulate that the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada will assume the duties of Governor General on a temporary basis, as the Administrator of the Government, until an absent Governor General returns to Canada and resumes their duties, or in the case of a transition, until the Governor General Designate has been appointed and sworn in as the new Governor General of Canada.