Australia appointed Sam Mostyn as its second woman governor-general, aiming to promote inclusivity in ceremonial roles. This reflects discussions about potentially replacing the British monarch with an Australian head of state.
Sam Mostyn, a prominent businesswoman and advocate for gender equality, has been appointed as the 28th governor-general of Australia. She previously made history as the first woman Australian Football League Commissioner in 2005.
“I will be an optimistic, modern and visible governor-general, committed to the service and contribution that all Australians expect and deserve from the holder of this office,” Mostyn stated in her first address in the new role.
Sam Mostyn mentioned that she met King Charles III in Britain in May, conveying Australians’ best wishes for his and Kate, Princess of Wales’s health as they undergo cancer treatment.
“I am not the first Australian to be struck by the interest and warmth the king feels for this country where he lived and studied as a young man,” Mostyn noted, referring to King Charles’s time in an Australian boarding school in 1966.
Mostyn discussed her new responsibilities with all five surviving former governors-general, including Quentin Bryce, seeking their insights and guidance.
Sam Mostyn has succeeded Gen. David Hurley as the governor-general of Australia. She supports transitioning to an Australian republic and has faced criticism for previously referring to Australia Day as “Invasion Day.”