WUNRN
Sunday
April 13, 2008
Australia to Get
First Female Governor-General
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has appointed Australia’s first female
governor-general after seeking advice from two powerful women – the Queen and
Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Prominent lawyer, academic and women’s activist Quentin Bryce will replace Major
General Michael Jeffery as the Queen’s representative in September.
Ms Bryce, the current governor of Queensland, will be the first woman to
hold the role in 107 years.
Women’s groups said Australia was finally moving into the 21st century,
while Ms Bryce said her appointment showed women could aspire to anything.
Mr Rudd said it was time a woman held the job.
“It’s taken us 107 years, it’s been a while, it’s good that it’s
happened,” Mr Rudd told reporters.
But he laughed off questions about whether it was also time for a female
prime minister.
“I think our arrangements at present are great,” he said.
“We’ve got a great deputy prime minister and I’ve been chatting to
Julia about this appointment as well.”
Nor would he be drawn on whether Ms Bryce would be the last
governor-general, with the republic debate back on the public agenda.
“The move to a republic is not a top-order question for the government.
There are many other priorities around,” Mr Rudd said.
“The government’s commitment to a republic remains clearcut … and I’m
sure that in the course of this year … that the debate on our future
constitutional arrangements will continue, as it should.”
Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said the appointment well and truly
brought Australia out of the 20th century mindset of the former Howard
government.
“We look forward to the potential for her passing the baton on to the
first president of the republic of Australia,” Senator Brown said.
Mr Rudd, who discussed the appointment with the Queen at Windsor Castle last
week, denied he was favouring his home state of Queensland with a
“pineapple coup”.
Ms Bryce had spent much of her working career in Sydney and was known across
the nation for her work as sex discrimination commissioner, he said.
“I’m sure her excellency intends to be a governor-general for all
Australians,” he said.
Ms Bryce posed for the cameras with Mr Rudd on Sunday afternoon and spoke
enthusiastically about her new role.
“I grew up in a little bush town in Queensland with 200 people,”
she said.
“And what this day says to Australian women and Australian girls is
that you can do anything, you can be anything, and it makes my heart sing to
see women in so many diverse roles across our country in Australia.”
Women’s groups said the Rudd government was starting to look like a 21st
century government.
“It means we are catching up with New Zealand,” former Victorian
premier and Emily’s List founder Joan Kirner said.
“All we have got to have now is a female chief justice and a female
prime minister.
“It means, after 200 years we are finally beginning to reflect the
diversity of Australia.”
Maj Gen Jeffery wished Ms Bryce well and promised to continue to carry out
his constitutional and public responsibilities with pride, dedication and
energy in his remaining four months in office.
Ms Bryce and her husband, Adjunct Professor Michael Bryce AM AE, have two
daughters, three sons and five grandchildren.
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