Governor-General Sam Mostyn clarifies Dismissal remarks, pledges to uphold ‘conventions’

Sam Mostyn has issued an extraordinary clarification, declaring she would abide by the conventions of the role. It follows outspoken remarks about John Kerr’s actions in 1975.

Sam Mostyn has moved to clarify comments she recently made about her position, and John Kerr.

Governor-General Sam Mostyn has issued an extraordinary clarification of her position on the Dismissal, declaring she would abide by the conventions of the role following outspoken remarks about her predecessor John Kerr’s actions in 1975.

Ms Mostyn cleared up her assessment of Mr Kerr’s decision to sack Gough Whitlam during a speech to mark the 50th anniversary of the event at Old Parliament House.

The move came after Ms Mostyn recently told The Australian she believed the governor-general should hold the government to account if it was “moving in the direction of irresponsibility”.

“It is true that I could not imagine a situation in modern Australia, where a prime minister would be surprised or blindsided by the Governor-General in the circumstances that occurred in 1975,” Ms Mostyn said on Tuesday.

“Importantly, nor am I taking a more expansive approach to my role or redefining any of the core principles of responsible and representative government. These are incontrovertible principles and sit at the core of our democracy.

“I can assure all Australians that I will continue to play my part in our remarkable, stable and reliable system of democracy consistent with the conventions of this office in the same way as my predecessors have done.”

The remarkable defence from the Governor-General arose after Ms Mostyn told The Australian last week that she “would not” have acted like Mr Kerr in a frank assessment of the Dismissal.

Instead, Ms Mostyn said the role should involve curtailing irresponsible government, throwing up concerns about what that would constitute.

Gough Whitlam on the steps of Parliament House in 1975 after his sacking by the G-G.

“I don’t believe a governor-general should ever be in the ­business of surprising a prime minister,” Ms Mostyn said at the time.

“If a government starts to behave irresponsibly, the role of the governor-general will be to have those conversations with the prime minister, with the ministers of the crown, early enough to say ‘there’s trouble ahead’.

“The holder of this office is there to protect the Australian public against the potential of irresponsible government.”

Ms Mostyn followed this up with a footnote that she would always exercise her powers “wisely and appropriately” in ­line with the Constitution.

It was a vow she was eager to repeat on Tuesday alongside a swipe at headlines that have “drawn a long bow,” before she shed light on the motivation for her public remarks.

“What I do aim to do, however, as a modern, visible and optimistic Governor-General for all Australians, is to bring transparency to what has traditionally occurred behind those closed doors,” she said.

“As I see it often seen as somewhat secretive, I want to welcome respectful discussion and debate on the role of the Governor-General within the Constitution and the functions of our great democracy.”