Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp touted as possible successor for Victoria’s governor
Some notable women have been touted as possible successors when Victorian Governor Linda Dessau steps down mid-year – so who will it be?
Victoria
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Who will be Victoria’s next governor?
A number of senior female figures, from Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp, to former chief justice of the Supreme Court Marilyn Warren and lawyer and Visit Victoria chair Janet Whiting have been touted as possible successors when Governor Linda Dessau steps down at the end of June.
Top end of town rumours abound, with some insiders tipping a “progressive” choice of an Indigenous appointment for the state’s chief representative to the monarchy.
As Premier, Daniel Andrews will officially choose the appointment on behalf of King Charles III.
In a wide field of perceived contenders, Chief Magistrate Lisa Hannan has been strongly tipped in some quarters. Then Attorney-General Jill Hennessy said of the former judge and coroner on her chief magistrate appointment in 2019: “Judge Hannan is a highly experienced, respected and capable judge who will perform the role of Chief Magistrate with distinction.”
In recent days, rumours about Capp have resurfaced, driven in part by her friendship with tycoon Lindsay Fox, with whom Andrews is said to be close. Some insiders point to Capp’s reluctance, as Lord Mayor, to stand up to the Andrews government despite lockdown’s impact on the CBD, as working in her favour. Bolder theories suggest Capp’s instalment as governor could lead to the rise of fellow counsellor Nicholas Reece – an ALP figure – into Melbourne city’s top job.
Conversely, other insiders argue that Capp is not personally close to Andrews and that the state government’s apparent reluctance to commit funding to council programs symbolises the distance between the pair.
Capp denied knowledge when asked about a possible governor role several months ago. She was among guests at Fox’s 85th birthday 12-day cruise from New York to Montreal last September. Other guests included Andrew “Twiggy’ Forrest, Eddie McGuire and property tycoon John Gandel.
Asked to comment on the speculation, a spokesman for Capp said: “The Lord Mayor is focused on setting the new pace for Melbourne into 2023 after the incredibly successful Christmas Festival and New Year’s Eve celebration in the city, and is now gearing up for what is set to be a record Moomba Festival in March.”
Warren, who has served as Victoria’s lieutenant (deputy) governor, would be considered a safe choice for the post. She is cautious of nature, accustomed to public scrutiny and impeccably credentialed.
Former government ministers Jaala Pulford, Lisa Neville and Jill Hennessy could be candidates, though they are all considered relatively young for such an appointment.
Relative youth may also count against Professor Barry Judd, who has Indigenous, British and Afghan ancestry, and who recently took over as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous) at the University of Melbourne.
Litigation lawyer Whiting, who is also NGV council of trustees president and has been a director in the health and diversity sectors, is another possibility, along with Anne Ferguson, who replaced Warren as the chief justice of the Supreme Court in 2017.
Male contenders seem in short supply. Former police chief commissioner Ken Lay, also a former lieutenant governor, has privately spoken about his desire to ride his bike day and night but might be considered an outside chance.
Dessau, the state’s first female governor and a former Family Court judge, has been in the post since 2015, promoting issues including diversity and domestic violence. In 2019, her five-year term was extended three years until June 2023.
“Previous governors would have done things right for their times,” she told the Herald Sun in 2020. “I’m doing what’s right, as I see it, for my time.”
There is early talk Dessau could be a contender to replace Governor-General David Hurley when his term ends in 2024.
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