Sam Mostyn heads to Yarralumla as governor-general, carrying her political baggage

The ‘surprise’ announcement of Samantha Mostyn to the post has won widespread public support but is privately seen as a highly political appointment.

Samantha Mostyn in Canberra on Wednesday following the announcement she will serve as the 28th governor-general. Picture: PMO

The “surprise” announcement of businesswoman and gender equality advocate Samantha Mostyn to the post of governor-general has won widespread public support but is privately seen as a highly political appointment by senior Liberals given her Labor links and stance on climate change and Indigenous affairs.

Following speculation the Prime Minister was weighing up appointing an Indigenous person as the King’s representative in Australia, Aboriginal leader Tom Calma hoped a future government would consider appointing a First Nations person.

Ms Mostyn – who worked for the Labor government in the 1990s under communications minister Michael Lee, transport minister Bob Collins, and then-prime minister Paul Keating – will serve as the 28th governor-general from July 1.

Her appointment followed months of speculation about who would take the job from former chief of the defence force David Hurley, with Kim Beazley, Ken Wyatt, Patrick Dodson, Tom Calma, Susan Kiefel, Glyn Davis and even the current Indigenous Australians Minister, Linda Burney, raised as possibilities.

While senior Labor figures ­admitted the appointment of Ms Mostyn was “a surprise”, the former AFL commissioner, who in the past has referred to Australia Day as Invasion Day, was praised for her “wealth of experience” across sport, business, climate change, mental health, arts and women’s advocacy sectors.

“Sam Mostyn is an exceptional leader who represents the best of modern Australia. She has lived her life in the service of a powerful Australian principle: when more people have the ­opportunity to fulfil their potential, our nation is a better place,” Anthony Albanese said. “With experience in a broad cross section of Australian life, she brings valuable new insights and experience to this important role.”

AFL chief executive Andrew Dillon said Ms Mostyn had been “a driving force in the establishment of an elite pathway for women” in the sport, while AFL Commission chair Richard Goyder said she would “bring great dedication and her outstanding values to this leadership role”.

Peter Dutton said Ms Mostyn had been “involved in business and sport for a long period of time” and was well known to many people in government. “I wish her the very best in her appointment,” he said.

But one senior Coalition figure told The Australian: “This is the most political pick for G-G in a long time.”

Opposition environment spokesman Jonathon Duniam said it would be “a massive disappointment and problem for the Prime Minister” if Ms Mostyn couldn’t “put aside her political views”.

Ms Mostyn’s former role as a Labor staffer, attendance at Mr ­Albanese’s 2022 election victory party and past social media posts – which have subsequently been deleted – also elicited criticism from conservative political lobbying group Advance.

Matthew Sheahan, the executive director of Advance – which played a key role in the No campaign against the voice to parliament – said Mr Albanese had appointed an “activist”, which was “an insult to mainstream Australians”. “Mostyn is the worst kind of corporate activist who campaigned against the majority of Australians in the divisive voice referendum,” he said. “In social media posts she has now deleted, she has argued to change the date of Australia Day, which she has also referred to as Invasion Day.”

Speaking at the National Press Club in September 2020, Ms Mostyn backed a voice to parliament and a Makarrata Commission.

She argued the Uluru Statement from the Heart had ignited a national conversation about how to rectify the “origins of the Australian story” as a way of addressing the “emotional and social wellbeing framework for Indigenous Peoples.”

In one of her deleted tweets made on January 25, 2020, Ms Mostyn used the hashtag #invasionDay and #AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe to promote a panel discussion on NITV.

Professor Calma and Thomas Mayo, who have both previously called for an Indigenous person to be considered for governor-general, said Ms Mostyn was an ­“excellent choice”. But Professor Calma, who worked with Ms Mostyn on the board of Reconciliation Australia, also said he still believed the time was right for a First Nations governor-general. “I think it’s time the government consider that,” he said. “There are many worthy candidates.”

Ms Mostyn most recently headed the government’s Women’s Economic Advisory Taskforce, which urged Labor to add superannuation to paid parental leave – a policy the government committed to last month.

Productivity Commission chair Danielle Wood, who sat with Ms Mostyn on the taskforce, said her appointment showed “a different face of Australia”.

“She’s younger. She’s a woman. She’s a change maker,” she said.

Ms Mostyn will be the second female governor-general, after Quentin Bryce’s appointment in 2008.

Former Australian of the Year Rosie Batty said she expected Ms Mostyn to “be an amazing influence”. Ms Mostyn said she was “deeply honoured”. “I will never underestimate or take for granted the expectations that come with high office and I am ready to serve with integrity, compassion, and respect,” she said.

Ms Mostyn was pictured in 2022 packing food hampers at the Addison Road Community Centre with Australian Republic Movement co-chair Craig Foster, who said her appointment was “an inspired choice”. “Sam is someone I’m sure Australians would choose as head of state if we had the choice, rather than asking for approval of a King,” he said. “In fact, Sam would be a wonderful president of an Australian republic.”