Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
Encyclopedia
The Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
and his staff provide governors-general with the necessary support to enable them to carry out their constitutional, statutory, ceremonial and public duties. The position of Official Secretary was established in 1901, although only statutorily established in its modern form in 1984. It was abolished in 1927 after the Parliament moved from Melbourne
to Canberra
, but was recreated in 1931.
The support provided by the Office of the Official Secretary includes the organisation of, and advice relating to, their duties, hospitality for official function
s, and administration of the Australian honours and Awards system. The Official Secretary is ex officio Secretary of the Order of Australia
.
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 role by program managers responsible for Executive Support, Household and Property, Organisation Services, and by the Director of the Honours Secretariat.
The best known Official Secretary is Sir David Smith
, who served five governors-general between 1973 and 1990. He was Official Secretary to Sir John Kerr at the time of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. Following the dismissal of the Prime Minister
Gough Whitlam
and the swearing-in of the Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Fraser
, Smith read out the proclamation of the dissolution of Parliament, on the steps of the then Parliament House (now Old Parliament House
) in Canberra, with Whitlam and a large crowd attending. The Official Secretary's office was referred to in Whitlam's famous address to the crowd:
At that time, the Official Secretary was an officer of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
, on secondment to Government House
. The department held and processed all Government House's personnel and financial records. This lack of formal independence led some of Smith's critics to bad-mouth him 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. To put an end to these slurs, Smith resolved to secure some formal independence for himself, his office and staff. Sir John Kerr, Sir Zelman Cowen
and Sir Ninian Stephen
all agreed with him but urged a cautious delay. The right time finally arrived in 1984 under the Hawke
government.
The 1984 amendment to the Governor-General Act 1974 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, an annual report of the Official Secretary is presented to both houses of parliament.
Some earlier Official Secretaries played significant political roles in their own right. Lord Hopetoun
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 establishments in Sydney and Melbourne was at the governor-general’s personal expense. His successor Lord Tennyson
was frugal by nature, and wanted some relief from this financial burden. The Prime Minister Alfred Deakin
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 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.
In 1916, George Steward, Official Secretary to Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, founded and headed the Counter-Espionage Bureau, Australia's first secret service, whose agents pursued International Workers of the World
and Sinn Féin
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 Billy Hughes
.
The longest serving Official Secretary was Sir Murray Tyrrell
, who served six governors-general over 26 years, 1947-1973.
The current Official Secretary is Stephen Brady
, who began duty on 5 September 2008.
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
and his staff provide governors-general with the necessary support to enable them to carry out their constitutional, statutory, ceremonial and public duties. The position of Official Secretary was established in 1901, although only statutorily established in its modern form in 1984. It was abolished in 1927 after the Parliament moved from Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
to Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
, but was recreated in 1931.
The support provided by the Office of the Official Secretary includes the organisation of, and advice relating to, their duties, hospitality for official function
Official function
An official function is either an event, such as a convention, that has an official purpose for one's employment, vocation or profession-whether run by a person, institution or governmental agency-or an official duty....
s, and administration of the Australian honours and Awards system. The Official Secretary is ex officio Secretary of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.
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 role by program managers responsible for Executive Support, Household and Property, Organisation Services, and by the Director of the Honours Secretariat.
The best known Official Secretary is Sir David Smith
David Smith (Australian public servant)
Sir David Iser Smith, KCVO, AO, is a retired Australian public servant. He was the Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia between 1973 and 1990, serving Sir Paul Hasluck, Sir John Kerr, Sir Zelman Cowen, Sir Ninian Stephen and Bill Hayden.-Biography:David Smith was born in 1933,...
, who served five governors-general between 1973 and 1990. He was Official Secretary to Sir John Kerr at the time of the 1975 Australian constitutional crisis. Following the dismissal of the Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Gough Whitlam
Gough Whitlam
Edward Gough Whitlam, AC, QC , known as Gough Whitlam , served as the 21st Prime Minister of Australia. Whitlam led the Australian Labor Party to power at the 1972 election and retained government at the 1974 election, before being dismissed by Governor-General Sir John Kerr at the climax of the...
and the swearing-in of the Leader of the Opposition, Malcolm Fraser
Malcolm Fraser
John Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, GCL, PC is a former Australian Liberal Party politician who was the 22nd Prime Minister of Australia. He came to power in the 1975 election following the dismissal of the Whitlam Labor government, in which he played a key role...
, Smith read out the proclamation of the dissolution of Parliament, on the steps of the then Parliament House (now Old Parliament House
Old Parliament House, Canberra
Old Parliament House, known formerly as the Provisional Parliament House, was the house of the Parliament of Australia from 1927 to 1988. The building began operation on 9 May 1927 as a temporary base for the Commonwealth Parliament after its relocation from Melbourne to the new capital, Canberra,...
) in Canberra, with Whitlam and a large crowd attending. The Official Secretary's office was referred to in Whitlam's famous address to the crowd:
- 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 Cur.
At that time, the Official Secretary was an officer of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is an Australian Government department. The Department was first established in 1911...
, on secondment to Government House
Government House, Canberra
Government House, Canberra, commonly known as Yarralumla, is the official residence of the Governor-General of Australia. It is located in the suburb of Yarralumla, in the City of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory....
. The department held and processed all Government House's personnel and financial records. This lack of formal independence led some of Smith's critics to bad-mouth him 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. To put an end to these slurs, Smith resolved to secure some formal independence for himself, his office and staff. Sir John Kerr, Sir Zelman Cowen
Zelman Cowen
Sir Zelman Cowen, was the 19th Governor-General of Australia. He is currently the oldest living former Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:...
and Sir Ninian Stephen
Ninian Stephen
Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, is a retired politician and judge, who served as the 20th Governor-General of Australia and as a Justice in the High Court of Australia.-Early life:...
all agreed with him but urged a cautious delay. The right time finally arrived in 1984 under the Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
government.
The 1984 amendment to the Governor-General Act 1974 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, an annual report of the Official Secretary is presented to both houses of parliament.
Some earlier Official Secretaries played significant political roles in their own right. Lord Hopetoun
John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow
John Adrian Louis Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC , also known as Viscount Aithrie before 1873 and as The 7th Earl of Hopetoun between 1873 and 1902, was a Scottish aristocrat, politician and colonial administrator. He is best known for his brief and controversial tenure as the...
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 establishments in Sydney and Melbourne was at the governor-general’s personal expense. His successor Lord Tennyson
Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson
Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, GCMG, PC , the second Governor-General of Australia, was born at Chapel House, Twickenham, in Surrey, England. Named after his father's late friend Arthur Hallam, he was the elder son of Alfred Tennyson, the most popular and prominent poet of late Victorian...
was frugal by nature, and wanted some relief from this financial burden. The Prime Minister Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin
Alfred Deakin , Australian politician, was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later the second Prime Minister of Australia. In the last quarter of the 19th century, Deakin was a major contributor to the establishment of liberal reforms in the colony of Victoria, including the...
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 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.
In 1916, George Steward, Official Secretary to Sir Ronald Munro Ferguson, founded and headed the Counter-Espionage Bureau, Australia's first secret service, whose agents pursued International Workers of the World
Industrial Workers of the World
The Industrial Workers of the World is an international union. At its peak in 1923, the organization claimed some 100,000 members in good standing, and could marshal the support of perhaps 300,000 workers. Its membership declined dramatically after a 1924 split brought on by internal conflict...
and Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
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 Billy Hughes
Billy Hughes
William Morris "Billy" Hughes, CH, KC, MHR , Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923....
.
The longest serving Official Secretary was Sir Murray Tyrrell
Murray Tyrrell
Sir Murray Louis Tyrrell KCVO CBE was the Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia for a record term of 26 years, 1947–73, in which time he served six governors-general....
, who served six governors-general over 26 years, 1947-1973.
The current Official Secretary is Stephen Brady
Stephen Brady
Stephen Brady, CVO is a senior Australian career diplomat. In 1999 he and his partner Peter Stephens became the world's first officially acknowledged gay ambassadorial couple, when they were presented to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at the start of Brady's posting as Australian Ambassador to...
, who began duty on 5 September 2008.
List of Official Secretaries
| Official Secretary | Period | Governors-General served |
|---|---|---|
| Captain Edward William Wallington | 1901 - 1902 | Hopetoun John Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow John Adrian Louis Hope, 1st Marquess of Linlithgow KT, GCMG, GCVO, PC , also known as Viscount Aithrie before 1873 and as The 7th Earl of Hopetoun between 1873 and 1902, was a Scottish aristocrat, politician and colonial administrator. He is best known for his brief and controversial tenure as the... |
| Sir George Charles Thomas Steward KBE CMG | December 1902 - 1919 | Tennnyson Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson, GCMG, PC , the second Governor-General of Australia, was born at Chapel House, Twickenham, in Surrey, England. Named after his father's late friend Arthur Hallam, he was the elder son of Alfred Tennyson, the most popular and prominent poet of late Victorian... , Northcote Henry Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote Henry Stafford Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote GCMG, GCIE, CB, PC , known as Sir Henry Northcote, Bt, between 1887 and 1900, was a Conservative politician and colonial administrator... , Dudley William Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley William Humble Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley, KP, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, KStJ, PC, TD, DL , styled Viscount Ednam before 1885, was a British Conservative politician... , Denman Thomas Denman, 3rd Baron Denman Thomas Denman, 3rd Baron Denman GCMG, KCVO, PC was a British Liberal politician and the fifth Governor-General of Australia.-Early years:... , Munro Ferguson |
| John Henry Starling John Henry Starling John Henry Starling was the official secretary to the Governor General of Australia from 1919–1927, serving Munro Ferguson, Forster and Stonehaven.... CMG OBE |
1919 - 1927 | Munro Ferguson, Forster Henry Forster, 1st Baron Forster Henry William Forster, 1st Baron Forster, GCMG, PC, DL , was a British Conservative Party politician who became the seventh Governor-General of Australia-Background and education:... , Stonehaven John Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven John Lawrence Baird, 1st Viscount Stonehaven, GCMG, DSO, PC, JP, DL , known as Sir John Baird, Bt, between 1920 and 1925 and as The Lord Stonehaven between 1925 and 1928, was a British Conservative politician, who served as a Member of Parliament, government minister, and was later the eighth... |
| (position abolished) | 1927 - 1931 | n/a |
| Rear-Admiral Sir Leighton Seymour Bracegirdle KCVO CMG DSO |
1931 - March 1947 | Isaacs Isaac Isaacs Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs GCB GCMG KC was an Australian judge and politician, was the third Chief Justice of Australia, ninth Governor-General of Australia and the first born in Australia to occupy that post. He is the only person ever to have held both positions of Chief Justice of Australia and... , Gowrie Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie Brigadier General Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie VC, GCMG, CB, DSO & Bar, PC was a British soldier and colonial governor and the tenth Governor-General of Australia. Serving for 9 years and 7 days, he is the longest serving Governor-General in Australia's history... , Gloucester Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester The Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester was a soldier and member of the British Royal Family, the third son of George V of the United Kingdom and Queen Mary.... , McKell William McKell Sir William John McKell GCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales from 1941 to 1947, and was the 12th Governor-General of Australia. He was also the oldest Governor General of Australia, at 93 when he died.... |
| Sir Murray Louis Tyrrell Murray Tyrrell Sir Murray Louis Tyrrell KCVO CBE was the Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia for a record term of 26 years, 1947–73, in which time he served six governors-general.... KCVO CBE |
March 1947 - 1973 | McKell, Slim William Slim, 1st Viscount Slim Field Marshal William Joseph "Bill"'Slim, 1st Viscount Slim, KG, GCB, GCMG, GCVO, GBE, DSO, MC, KStJ was a British military commander and the 13th Governor-General of Australia.... , Dunrossil William Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil William Shepherd Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil, GCMG, MC, KStJ, PC, QC , the 14th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Scotland and educated at George Watson's College and the University of Edinburgh. He joined the British Army in the First World War and served with an artillery regiment... , De L'Isle William Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle William Philip Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle and 6th Baron De L'Isle and Dudley VC KG GCMG GCVO KStJ PC , was the 15th Governor-General of Australia and the final non-Australian to hold the office... , Casey Richard Casey, Baron Casey Richard Gardiner Casey, Baron Casey KG GCMG CH DSO MC KStJ PC was an Australian politician, diplomat and the 16th Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:... , Hasluck Paul Hasluck Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck KG GCMG GCVO KStJ was an Australian historian, poet, public servant and politician, and the 17th Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:... |
| Sir David Iser Smith David Smith (Australian public servant) Sir David Iser Smith, KCVO, AO, is a retired Australian public servant. He was the Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia between 1973 and 1990, serving Sir Paul Hasluck, Sir John Kerr, Sir Zelman Cowen, Sir Ninian Stephen and Bill Hayden.-Biography:David Smith was born in 1933,... KCVO AO |
1973 - 1990 | Hasluck, Kerr, Cowen Zelman Cowen Sir Zelman Cowen, was the 19th Governor-General of Australia. He is currently the oldest living former Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:... , Stephen Ninian Stephen Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, is a retired politician and judge, who served as the 20th Governor-General of Australia and as a Justice in the High Court of Australia.-Early life:... , Hayden Bill Hayden William George "Bill" Hayden AC was the 21st Governor-General of Australia. Prior to this, he represented the Australian Labor Party in parliament; he was a minister in the government of Gough Whitlam, and later became Leader of the Opposition, narrowly losing the 1980 federal election to the... |
| Robert Douglas Sturkey Douglas Sturkey Dr Robert Douglas Sturkey CVO, AM is a former Australian diplomat and Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia and is currently a Visiting Fellow at the Australian National University, Canberra.-Public service:... CVO AM |
1990 - 14 July 1998 | Hayden, Deane William Deane Sir William Patrick Deane, AC, KBE, QC , Australian judge and the 22nd Governor-General of Australia.-Early life:William Deane was born in Melbourne, Victoria. He was educated at Catholic schools including St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill and at the University of Sydney, where he graduated in... |
| Martin Bonsey AO CVO | 15 July 1998 - 2003 | Deane, Hollingworth Peter Hollingworth Peter John Hollingworth AC, OBE is an Australian Anglican bishop. He served as the Archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years before becoming the 23rd Governor-General of Australia from 2001 until 2003.... |
| Malcolm John Hazell Malcolm Hazell Malcolm John Hazell CVO AM is a retired Australian public servant. He was the Official Secretary to two Governors-General of Australia, Peter Hollingworth and Major-General Michael Jeffery .-Biography:... CVO AM |
2003 - 4 September 2008 | Hollingworth, Jeffery Michael Jeffery Major General Philip Michael Jeffery AC, CVO, MC was the 24th Governor-General of Australia , the first Australian career soldier to be appointed governor-general... |
| Stephen Brady Stephen Brady Stephen Brady, CVO is a senior Australian career diplomat. In 1999 he and his partner Peter Stephens became the world's first officially acknowledged gay ambassadorial couple, when they were presented to Queen Margrethe II of Denmark at the start of Brady's posting as Australian Ambassador to... CVO |
5 September 2008 - date | Bryce Quentin Bryce Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia and former Governor of Queensland.... |