Incoming governor-general set to receive annual salary of $709,000

Incoming governor-general Sam Mostyn is set to receive an annual salary of $709,000, 43 per cent higher than that of her predecessor David Hurley, in the first increase in five years.

Proposed legislation to amend Mostyn’s salary says it was calculated to “moderately exceed” the five-year average salary of the chief justice of the High Court, whose pay is set by the independent Remuneration Tribunal. Chief Justice Stephen Gageler earns $649,880 a year but is expected to reach $769,989 after five years.

Incoming governor-general Sam Mostyn is set to receive a generous yearly pay packet of more than $700,000.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister Patrick Gorman tabled the Governor-General Amendment (Salary) bill in the House of Representatives on Monday.

It will need to be passed to take effect before Mostyn is sworn in on July 1, replacing Hurley, who was on an annual salary of $495,000.

Historically, many governors-general have come to office from areas such as the military or judiciary, from which they drew comfortable pensions, while Mostyn is from the private sector.

A spokesperson for Gorman said the governor-general’s salary had not been adjusted since 2019.

“Where, in the past, a governor-general has been the recipient of other Commonwealth entitlements, such as a military pension, the annual salary has been adjusted accordingly. Ms Mostyn is not a recipient of any such entitlements,” they said.

“In line with previous practices, the proposed salary of the governor-general is calculated by reference to the estimated average salary of the chief justice of the High Court of Australia.”

Speaking in Canberra on Monday, Gorman said Mostyn’s salary reflects the most senior position as a representative of King Charles.

“It’s appropriate that we do what we’ve done for many years, I’d be very uncomfortable and I think many people in this building would be uncomfortable if there was to be a break with traditional practice,” he said.

Gorman refused to say if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had had any conversations with Mostyn about what her salary would be before getting the job.

“It is by convention that you don’t exchange details of conversations between the prime minister and governor-general,” he said.

The governor-general has four key areas of responsibility: constitutional duties such as royal assent to legislation; ceremonial responsibilities such as hosting visiting members of state in a diplomatic capacity; duties as commander-in-chief of the Australian Defence Force; and working with the community, hosting or attending hundreds of events each year.

In addition to salary, the governor-general has official residences at Government House in Canberra and Admiralty House on Sydney Harbour and official travel and living expenses are paid for by taxpayers.

Hurley, who had his official portrait unveiled in parliament on Monday, spent most of his career in the Defence Force, of which he was chief from 2011 to 2014.

Mostyn was named as Hurley’s successor in April. She is a former staffer to Paul Keating and rose to prominence for her corporate work campaigning on the economic empowerment of women.

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