238:
paid for by the
Australian government, as long as it was also able to appoint him. The British government objected (privately) because this would mean that the governor-general could not carry out what was seen in London as his broader role in supervising the Australian government. While Tennyson shared this understanding of his role, he nevertheless agreed to Deakin's proposal, and Parliament approved the arrangement in August 1902. However, the relations between the two men, which had been frosty, were not improved by this episode, and Deakin did not encourage Tennyson to seek an extension of his one-year term.
314:
746:
708:
519:
783:
201:. The department held and processed all Government House's personnel and financial records. This lack of formal independence led some to criticise Smith in 1976 for having failed to keep Whitlam and his departmental head informed of Kerr's thinking in the period leading up to Whitlam's dismissal. Smith subsequently resolved to secure more formal independent power for himself, his office and staff. Sir John Kerr, Sir
237:
suspected that
Tennyson was reporting on him to London and trying to interfere on matters of policy, such as the naval agreement between Britain and Australia. The official secretary would have been involved in these intrigues. He therefore proposed that the governor-general's official secretary be
114:
to enable the governor-general to carry out their constitutional, statutory, ceremonial and public duties. Until 1903, the governor-general’s private secretary provided the support to the governor-general, when the official secretary position was established. The position was abolished in 1928 after
220:
provided for the establishment of a statutory office of official secretary, to be appointed by the governor-general-in-council, to employ the necessary staff, and to hold office at the governor-general's pleasure. All personnel and financial records were transferred to
Government House. Since 1985,
150:
The Office also manages and maintains the official properties and associated heritage buildings and grounds, and opens the properties to members of the public for events sponsored by charitable institutions. The official secretary is supported in his or her role by program managers responsible for
192:
Whitlam chose those words to highlight the fact that his government (since winning the double dissolution election of 1974) had abolished use of the words "God Save The Queen" at the end of all official proclamations. Its reinstatement by Smith was an autocratic act taken entirely on his own part;
257:
activists. Munro
Ferguson was as unenthusiastic about these duties of his official secretary (whom he dubbed 'Pickle the Spy') and the unsavoury characters who consequently lurked about Government House as he was with the secret political work which Steward sometimes performed for Prime Minister
187:
Well may we say "God save the Queen" because nothing will save the
Governor-General. The proclamation you have just heard read by the Governor-General's Official Secretary was countersigned "Malcolm Fraser", who will undoubtedly go down in Australian history from Remembrance Day 1975 as Kerr's
228:
had brought his own private secretary, Captain Edward
Wallington, who handled all his communications with London. The Australians resented an Englishman being in charge of official business. At that time, the payment of the governor-general's staff and the maintenance of the two official
823:
124:
30:
246:
854:
194:
284:
The following list show the appointed secretaries and acting secretaries in order of appointment. The honours shown were held at the time of appointment.
193:
indeed, the newly minted "caretaker" Fraser government was not empowered to make such changes. At that time, the official secretary was an officer of the
326:
183:) in Canberra, with Whitlam and a large crowd attending. The official secretary's proclamation was referred to in Whitlam's famous address to the crowd:
422:
375:
333:
123:, but was recreated in 1931. The position was established by statute in its current form in 1984. Since 1 July 2024 the official secretary has been
635:
135:
The support provided by the Office of the
Official Secretary includes the organisation of, and advice relating to, their duties, hospitality for
561:
475:
415:
482:
429:
140:
859:
449:
382:
972:
692:
500:
358:
496:
1223:
757:
350:
719:
675:
648:
607:
401:
The position of official secretary was abolished in 1928 but
Starling continued as Secretary to the Federal Executive Council.
225:
168:
1108:
346:
795:
531:
396:
342:
230:
544:
144:
641:
568:
997:
829:
682:
614:
453:
392:
179:, Smith read out the proclamation of the dissolution of Parliament on the steps of the then Parliament House (now
151:
Executive
Support, Household and Property, Organisation Services, and by the Director of the Honours Secretariat.
764:
492:
354:
250:
802:
180:
111:
59:
49:
789:
578:
555:
273:
160:
72:
504:
198:
1122:
229:
establishments in Sydney and
Melbourne was at the governor-general's personal expense. His successor
242:
209:
all agreed with him but urged a cautious delay. The right time finally arrived in 1984 under the
751:
958:
436:
1202:
409:
8:
369:
224:
Some earlier official secretaries played significant political roles in their own right.
233:
was frugal by nature, and wanted some relief from this financial burden. Prime Minister
163:, who served five governors-general between 1973 and 1990. He was official secretary to
658:
986:
221:
an annual report of the official secretary is presented to both houses of parliament.
524:
136:
1188:
1177:
1166:
1155:
1144:
1133:
1071:
1060:
880:
601:
734:
669:
586:
469:
457:
320:
266:
206:
176:
83:
66:
1083:
1035:
1009:
895:
1217:
745:
730:
713:
624:
234:
172:
164:
921:
812:
698:
582:
508:
445:
259:
202:
313:
254:
739:
Later served as the Australian Ambassador to France and appointed an AO.
590:
518:
838:
782:
1207:
210:
116:
707:
120:
1123:
Resignation of Douglas Sturkey and appointment of Martin Bonsey
1088:
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 - 1973)
1040:
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 - 1973)
1014:
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 - 1973)
900:
Commonwealth of Australia Gazette (National : 1901 - 1973)
881:
Australian Dictionary of Biography: John Henry Starling CMG OBE
269:, who served six governors-general over 26 years, 1947–1973.
922:"Appointment of Official Secretary to the Governor-General"
855:
Official Secretary to the Governor-General of New Zealand
249:, Australia's first secret service, whose agents pursued
1208:
Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
926:
Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
108:
official secretary to the governor-general of Australia
21:
Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
143:. The official secretary acts as the Secretary of the
175:
and the swearing-in of the leader of the Opposition,
999:
gg.gov.au. 18 August 2018. Retrieved 26 October 2018
966:
1215:
1010:"Government Gazette Appointments and Employment"
279:
265:The longest serving official secretary was Sir
241:In 1916, George Steward, official secretary to
991:
195:Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
171:. Following the dismissal of Prime Minister
860:Secretary to the Governor General of Canada
1203:Official Secretary to the Governor-General
876:
874:
697:Later appointed an Extra Equerry to Queen
159:The best known official secretary is Sir
48:Office of the Official Secretary to the
871:
1216:
1072:It's an Honour: Sir George Steward KBE
169:1975 Australian constitutional crisis
890:
888:
276:, who began duty on 18 August 2018.
141:Australian honours and awards system
1134:It's an Honour: Douglas Sturkey CVO
1061:It's an Honour: George Steward: CMG
574:30 January 1973 – 1 September 1990
547:and appointed a GCB, GCVO, AC, QSO
13:
1189:It's an Honour: Malcolm Hazell CVO
545:Private Secretary to the Sovereign
339:27 March 1903 – 28 February 1919
272:The current official secretary is
145:Council for the Order of Australia
14:
1235:
1196:
1167:It's an Honour: Martin Bonsey CVO
1156:It's an Honour: Martin Bonsey LVO
961:House of Representatives Practice
896:"OFFICES ABOLISHED, CREATED, ETC"
885:
110:and staff provide support to the
1178:It's an Honour: Martin Bonsey AO
781:
744:
706:
620:1 September 1990 – 14 July 1998
517:
488:25 March 1947 – 30 January 1973
312:
35:since 1 July 2024
1182:
1171:
1160:
1149:
1138:
1127:
1116:
1102:
1076:
1065:
1054:
1042:. 27 February 1919. p. 354
1028:
776:Later appointed an AO and CVO.
726:5 September 2008 – 26 June 2014
251:Industrial Workers of the World
1224:Governors-general of Australia
1002:
980:
952:
939:
914:
770:27 June 2014 – 17 August 2018
688:9 May 2003 – 4 September 2008
1:
1084:"COMMONWEALTH PUBLIC SERVICE"
1036:"Commonwealth public service"
975:Australia's Governors General
865:
808:18 August 2018 – 1 July 2024
388:12 June 1919 – 15 March 1928
112:governor-general of Australia
1090:. 12 June 1919. p. 1000
902:. 15 March 1928. p. 492
280:List of official secretaries
139:, and administration of the
7:
1016:. 4 April 1903. p. 181
848:
60:Governor-General-in-Council
10:
1240:
654:15 July 1998 – 9 May 2003
216:The 1984 amendment to the
154:
115:the Parliament moved from
73:at the governor's pleasure
701:. Later appointed an AO.
304:Governors-general served
245:, founded and headed the
243:Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson
218:Governor-General Act 1974
130:
89:
79:
65:
55:
47:
25:
20:
1145:Political Storm faces PM
247:Counter-Espionage Bureau
987:ADB: Sir George Steward
835:1 July 2024 – present
190:
1109:Christopher Cunneen:
185:
410:Leighton Bracegirdle
181:Old Parliament House
1111:William John McKell
293:Official Secretary
197:, on secondment to
167:at the time of the
442:1931 – March 1947
137:official functions
84:Sir George Steward
846:
845:
525:William Heseltine
408:Rear Admiral Sir
104:
103:
1231:
1191:
1186:
1180:
1175:
1169:
1164:
1158:
1153:
1147:
1142:
1136:
1131:
1125:
1120:
1114:
1106:
1100:
1099:
1097:
1095:
1080:
1074:
1069:
1063:
1058:
1052:
1051:
1049:
1047:
1032:
1026:
1025:
1023:
1021:
1006:
1000:
995:
989:
984:
978:
970:
964:
956:
950:
943:
937:
936:
934:
932:
918:
912:
911:
909:
907:
892:
883:
878:
832:
805:
800:
785:
767:
762:
748:
727:
722:
710:
685:
680:
651:
646:
617:
612:
571:
566:
543:Later served as
537:May–August 1962
534:
521:
485:
480:
439:
434:
427:
420:
391:Munro Ferguson,
385:
380:
336:
331:
316:
287:
286:
199:Government House
100:
98:
80:Inaugural holder
50:Governor-General
42:
40:
18:
17:
1239:
1238:
1234:
1233:
1232:
1230:
1229:
1228:
1214:
1213:
1199:
1194:
1187:
1183:
1176:
1172:
1165:
1161:
1154:
1150:
1143:
1139:
1132:
1128:
1121:
1117:
1107:
1103:
1093:
1091:
1082:
1081:
1077:
1070:
1066:
1059:
1055:
1045:
1043:
1034:
1033:
1029:
1019:
1017:
1008:
1007:
1003:
996:
992:
985:
981:
973:Brian Carroll:
971:
967:
957:
953:
944:
940:
930:
928:
920:
919:
915:
905:
903:
894:
893:
886:
879:
872:
868:
851:
828:
798:
794:
760:
756:
725:
718:
678:
674:
644:
640:
610:
606:
602:Douglas Sturkey
564:
560:
530:
478:
474:
432:
425:
418:
414:
378:
374:
329:
325:
297:
282:
157:
133:
96:
94:
43:
38:
36:
34:
33:
29:
12:
11:
5:
1237:
1227:
1226:
1212:
1211:
1205:
1198:
1197:External links
1195:
1193:
1192:
1181:
1170:
1159:
1148:
1137:
1126:
1115:
1101:
1075:
1064:
1053:
1027:
1001:
990:
979:
965:
951:
938:
913:
884:
869:
867:
864:
863:
862:
857:
850:
847:
844:
843:
841:
836:
833:
826:
821:
818:
817:
815:
809:
806:
792:
786:
778:
777:
774:
771:
768:
754:
749:
741:
740:
737:
728:
723:
716:
711:
703:
702:
695:
691:Hollingworth,
689:
686:
672:
670:Malcolm Hazell
667:
664:
663:
661:
655:
652:
638:
633:
630:
629:
627:
621:
618:
604:
599:
596:
595:
593:
575:
572:
558:
552:
549:
548:
541:
538:
535:
528:
522:
514:
513:
511:
489:
486:
472:
470:Murray Tyrrell
466:
463:
462:
460:
443:
440:
412:
406:
403:
402:
399:
389:
386:
372:
367:
364:
363:
361:
359:Munro Ferguson
340:
337:
323:
321:George Steward
317:
309:
308:
305:
302:
299:
294:
291:
281:
278:
267:Murray Tyrrell
207:Ninian Stephen
177:Malcolm Fraser
156:
153:
132:
129:
102:
101:
91:
87:
86:
81:
77:
76:
69:
63:
62:
57:
53:
52:
45:
44:
27:
26:
23:
22:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1236:
1225:
1222:
1221:
1219:
1209:
1206:
1204:
1201:
1200:
1190:
1185:
1179:
1174:
1168:
1163:
1157:
1152:
1146:
1141:
1135:
1130:
1124:
1119:
1113:
1112:
1105:
1089:
1085:
1079:
1073:
1068:
1062:
1057:
1041:
1037:
1031:
1015:
1011:
1005:
998:
994:
988:
983:
977:
976:
969:
963:
962:
955:
948:
947:Head of State
942:
927:
923:
917:
901:
897:
891:
889:
882:
877:
875:
870:
861:
858:
856:
853:
852:
842:
840:
837:
834:
831:
827:
825:
824:Gerard Martin
822:
820:
819:
816:
814:
810:
807:
804:
797:
793:
791:
787:
784:
780:
779:
775:
772:
769:
766:
759:
755:
753:
750:
747:
743:
742:
738:
736:
732:
729:
724:
721:
717:
715:
714:Stephen Brady
712:
709:
705:
704:
700:
696:
694:
690:
687:
684:
677:
673:
671:
668:
666:
665:
662:
660:
656:
653:
650:
643:
639:
637:
636:Martin Bonsey
634:
632:
631:
628:
626:
622:
619:
616:
609:
605:
603:
600:
598:
597:
594:
592:
588:
584:
580:
576:
573:
570:
563:
559:
557:
553:
551:
550:
546:
542:
539:
536:
533:
529:
526:
523:
520:
516:
515:
512:
510:
506:
502:
498:
494:
490:
487:
484:
477:
473:
471:
467:
465:
464:
461:
459:
455:
451:
447:
444:
441:
438:
431:
424:
417:
413:
411:
407:
405:
404:
400:
398:
394:
390:
387:
384:
377:
373:
371:
370:John Starling
368:
366:
365:
362:
360:
356:
352:
348:
344:
341:
338:
335:
328:
324:
322:
318:
315:
311:
310:
306:
303:
300:
295:
292:
289:
288:
285:
277:
275:
270:
268:
263:
261:
256:
252:
248:
244:
239:
236:
235:Alfred Deakin
232:
231:Lord Tennyson
227:
226:Lord Hopetoun
222:
219:
214:
212:
208:
204:
200:
196:
189:
184:
182:
178:
174:
173:Gough Whitlam
170:
166:
165:Sir John Kerr
162:
152:
148:
146:
142:
138:
128:
126:
125:Gerard Martin
122:
118:
113:
109:
92:
88:
85:
82:
78:
75:
74:
70:
68:
64:
61:
58:
54:
51:
46:
32:
31:Gerard Martin
24:
19:
16:
1184:
1173:
1162:
1151:
1140:
1129:
1118:
1110:
1104:
1092:. Retrieved
1087:
1078:
1067:
1056:
1044:. Retrieved
1039:
1030:
1018:. Retrieved
1013:
1004:
993:
982:
974:
968:
960:
954:
946:
941:
929:. Retrieved
925:
916:
904:. Retrieved
899:
699:Elizabeth II
659:Hollingworth
283:
271:
264:
260:Billy Hughes
240:
223:
217:
215:
213:government.
203:Zelman Cowen
191:
186:
158:
149:
134:
107:
105:
71:
15:
945:Smith, D.,
790:Paul Singer
788:Lieutenant
752:Mark Fraser
556:David Smith
274:Paul Singer
161:David Smith
67:Term length
1210:on YouTube
949:, p. 252-4
866:References
811:Cosgrove,
540:De L'Isle
454:Gloucester
397:Stonehaven
319:Major Sir
39:2024-07-01
773:Cosgrove
577:Hasluck,
527:(acting)
501:De L'Isle
497:Dunrossil
347:Northcote
298:nominals
290:Portrait
255:Sinn Féin
117:Melbourne
90:Formation
56:Appointer
28:Incumbent
1218:Category
959:Odgers:
849:See also
735:Cosgrove
623:Hayden,
491:McKell,
343:Tennyson
205:and Sir
121:Canberra
1094:12 June
1046:12 June
1020:12 June
906:12 June
693:Jeffery
657:Deane,
587:Stephen
509:Hasluck
393:Forster
301:Period
155:History
95: (
37: (
931:1 July
839:Mostyn
813:Hurley
591:Hayden
458:McKell
450:Gowrie
446:Isaacs
355:Denman
351:Dudley
307:Notes
131:Duties
801:
799:,
763:
761:,
731:Bryce
681:
679:,
647:
645:,
625:Deane
613:
611:,
583:Cowen
567:
565:,
505:Casey
481:
479:,
435:
433:,
428:
426:,
421:
419:,
381:
379:,
332:
330:,
211:Hawke
1096:2020
1048:2020
1022:2020
933:2024
908:2020
803:RANR
579:Kerr
562:KCVO
554:Sir
493:Slim
476:KCVO
468:Sir
416:KCVO
296:Post
253:and
188:Cur.
106:The
97:1903
93:1903
830:PSM
796:MVO
765:OAM
758:LVO
720:CVO
676:CVO
649:CVO
608:CVO
532:MVO
483:CBE
437:RAN
430:DSO
423:CMG
383:OBE
376:CMG
334:CMG
327:KBE
119:to
1220::
1086:.
1038:.
1012:.
924:.
898:.
887:^
873:^
733:,
683:AM
642:AO
615:AM
589:,
585:,
581:,
569:AO
507:,
503:,
499:,
495:,
456:,
452:,
448:,
395:,
357:,
353:,
349:,
345:,
262:.
147:.
127:.
1098:.
1050:.
1024:.
935:.
910:.
99:)
41:)
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.