Sam Mostyn to be Australia’s new governor-general

Sam Mostyn, a former staffer to Paul Keating who rose to prominence for her corporate work campaigning on economic empowerment of women, will be Australia’s next governor-general.

Describing the former lawyer as a “modern and optimistic leader for our modern and optimistic nation”, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed Mostyn would succeed David Hurley on July 1.

Samantha Mostyn with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday.Credit: AAP

The move was welcomed by figures across the political spectrum including Peter Dutton, Malcolm Turnbull and Paul Keating and marked a change from figures of a military background such as Sir Peter Cosgrove and Hurley.

“Her leadership reflects our enduring Australian values of equality, fairness and responsibility to build a better future for the next generation,” Albanese said at a press conference in Canberra alongside Mostyn.

Old social media posts in which she labels Australia Day “#InvasionDay” and used the phrase “#AlwaysWasAlwaysWillBe” led to right-wing campaigning body Advance declaring Mostyn’s pick an “insult to mainstream Australians”, but no Coalition MP publicly criticised her on Wednesday.

Former Coalition deputy prime minister Mark Vaile, who has known Mostyn for decades, said the 58-year-old was ideal for the role even though she worked for Labor politicians including Keating, a life-long Republican.

Governor-General David Hurley’s term will expire on July 1.Credit: Rhett Wyman

“She’s a firm believer in the institutions that we built the nation on, and that have served the nation well. Obviously, she will carry out this role representing all Australians very well,” Vaile said.

Mostyn will become the second woman to serve as the monarch’s representative in Australia after Quentin Bryce, who held the role from 2008 to 2014.

While the social reform advocate is not a military figure like Hurley and his predecessor Cosgrove, both Mostyn and the prime minister emphasised her father’s military background and her respect and understanding for Australia’s legal and political institutions.

“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.

“Along with my three younger sisters, I grew up in an army family. Our father was a Royal Military College Duntroon graduate who served Australia with distinction for almost 40 years, supported by the generosity, love, care and selflessness of our late mother.

“I also clearly and fondly recall our annual attendances at Anzac Day dawn services and marches and standing patiently with my sisters in the crowds on Dunrossil Drive at Yarralumla, waiting to catch that glimpse of Her Majesty the Queen on her visits to Canberra in the 1970s.

“The beauty of Australians is our ability to pull together, often despite our differences.

“I’ve had engaging discussions with farmers about the challenges of climate change, listened deeply to young people talking enthusiastically about civics and democracy and intergenerational fairness. I spent time listening carefully to single mothers and domestic violence survivors, and shared coffees and stories in men’s sheds.”

Mostyn, 58, was floated as a Labor candidate at the last election and was previously appointed by the Albanese government to the Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce and the Climate Change Authority.

Buckingham Palace sent out royal affirmation on Wednesday morning as the news was announced: “His Majesty the King, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr Anthony Albanese, has been pleased to approve the appointment of Ms Samantha Mostyn, as the governor-general designate of the Commonwealth of Australia.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton praised Mostyn, saying she was “somebody who’s been involved in business and sport for a long period of time and obviously is well known to many people within the government over a long period of time”.

The appointment took some by surprise. Earlier this year, media outlets reported on the potential of an Indigenous Australian becoming the nation’s 28th governor-general.

Cosgrove, who served as governor-general from 2014 to 2019, said Mostyn would be “sensitive and attentive” to all Australians, and interested in a broad suite of issues.

“I am delighted that an Australian woman of eminence, and obvious capability, is going to be our next governor-general,” he said.

Malcolm Turnbull said: “Sam is a great choice as governor-general. She commands enormous respect throughout the community. Both [my wife] Lucy and I have worked with her and known her for many years and I have no doubt she will fulfil that role with great success.”

Craig Foster, a human rights activist and chair of the Australian Republic Movement, called Mostyn “an inspired choice ... a genuine, beautiful human who cares about others”.

“One that I’m sure Australians would make, if we had the choice, rather than asking for the approval of a king. In fact, Sam would be a wonderful president of the Australian republic,” he said.

In the 1980s and ’90s, Mostyn worked as a communications policy adviser to prime minister Paul Keating. She also worked for Labor ministers Bob Collins and Michael Lee.

In a statement, Keating said Mostyn had given much service to the public.

“This service marked her out as a distinguished communitarian with a complex range of interests. And with those interests, experience,” he said.

Mostyn has held a wide range of positions during her career.

Sam Mostyn at the SCG during her time as AFL commissioner in 2013.Credit: Nic Walker

She has taken on non-executive positions on the boards of Virgin, Citibank and Transurban, chaired Chief Executive Women and NSW women’s economic empowerment panels, and was the first woman on the AFL Commission, where she was a key backer of the women’s competition. Mostyn’s work with the Sydney Swans led to the award for the team’s best female player being named after her.

She also chaired mental health charity Beyond Blue and was involved in the Australia Council for the Arts and the Climate Council.

Mostyn will now step down from her role as chair of AWARE Super.

In 2021, she was made an officer of the Order of Australia for her distinguished service.

This masthead reported in March 2022 that Labor wanted Mostyn to run for the marginal seat of Reid. At the time, she was not a Labor member and said “there was no possibility” she would contest the seat.

Albanese knocked back any talk of an Australian republic as he announced Mostyn’s appointment.

“Today’s the day for the appointment of Australia’s next governor-general. I made it very clear that I had one referendum in mind. And that took place last year,” he said.

The governor-general is the King’s official representative in Australia and the commander-in-chief of the Defence Force. The governor-general has constitutional powers including the power to dissolve parliament and appoint ministers and assistant ministers.

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