Margaret Beazley’s term as NSW governor extended until May 2026

Premier Chris Minns has extended Margaret Beazley’s term as governor of NSW for another two years, meaning the eminent Sydney-born jurist will serve in the vice-regal role until May 2026.

Beazley, 72, was appointed as the state’s 39th governor in 2019 by then-premier Gladys Berejiklian. The extension of her term as the King’s representative has been approved by His Majesty King Charles III on Minns’ recommendation.

NSW Governor Margaret Beazley with Chris Minns during his swearing-in as premier in March 2023.Credit: AAP

“Her Excellency has agreed to continue in her role as governor of NSW for an additional two-year period,” Minns said. “She has a deep commitment and dedication to the office she holds and the people of NSW who she serves.”

Beazley graduated from the University of Sydney Law School with honours in 1974, and was called to the bar the following year, at a time when women were still a novelty in the law, especially outside family law. She was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1989.

In 1996, she became the first female judge appointed to the NSW Court of Appeal, and was also the first woman to hold the role of president of that court when she was promoted in 2013. In 2020, she was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC).

Through her legal career, Beazley has also served on the Federal Court of Australia, the Industrial Relations Court of Australia, the District Court of NSW and as assistant commissioner of the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Governor Margaret Beazley (right) spoke at the WugulOra morning ceremony on Australia Day earlier this year.Credit: Kate Geraghty

The extension of her appointment by two years means the Labor government will still have the opportunity to appoint Beazley’s successor before the next election, which is due to be held in March 2027.

While the governor has several constitutional duties, including presiding over the Executive Council and assenting to bills passed by the parliament, in practice the role is largely ceremonial.

In her address to the WugulOra ceremony at Barangaroo on Australia Day this year, Beazley drew attention to the resilience of Indigenous Australians, including in the aftermath of the unsuccessful Voice referendum.

She also recounted a story from the launch of the Sydney Festival some weeks prior, when the Indigenous elder performing a welcome ceremony was heckled by someone in the audience.

“Not many of us find ourselves in that situation: abused in front of a crowd because of an assumption made about our identity, in this case, it would seem, because of a perceived lack of colour,” Beazley said.

“Racism – casual, social, or systemic – and prejudice need to be recognised and called out for what they are. Not to do so diminishes us as a people. We need to be, and I believe we are, better than that.”

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