Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That this bill be now read a second time.

I seek leave to have the second reading speech incorporated in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The speech read as follows—

This bill will set the salary of the next Governor-General.

It amends the Governor-General Act 1974.

The Governor-General is appointed by His Majesty The King.

This is on the advice and recommendation of the Prime Minister and under the provisions of the Letters Patent relating to the Office of the Governor-General.

On 3 April 2024, the Prime Minister announced that The King had approved his recommendation to appoint Ms Samantha Mostyn AC as our next Governor-General.

This follows the conclusion of the term of His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retired) as Governor-General.

Ms Mostyn will be sworn in as Governor-General on 1 July 2024.

Section 3 of the Constitution prevents the Governor-General's salary from being altered during their term of office.

As such, it is necessary to set the next Governor-General's salary at a level appropriate for the duration of this term.

Although the Governor-General serves at The King's pleasure, it is usual to serve for approximately five years.

Accordingly, it is necessary to set the next Governor-General's salary at a level appropriate for the duration of this term.

In line with past practice, the proposed salary is calculated by reference to the estimated average salary of the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia over the notional five-year term of the appointment of the Governor-General.

Where, in the past, a Governor-General has been the recipient of other Commonwealth entitlements—such as a military pension—the annual salary has been adjusted accordingly.

Ms Mostyn is not a recipient of any such entitlements.

The Chief Justice's salary is determined annually by the Remuneration Tribunal, an independent statutory authority.

The Parliament must pass this Bill before the commencement of Ms Mostyn's term.

Section three of the Constitution provides:

The salary of a Governor-General shall not be altered during the continuance in office.