Factsheet 2.2
The Governor of Queensland Role of the Governor • recommending by a message to the Legislative Assembly, the passing of the Appropriation Queensland’s system of Government is a Bill(s) prior to their introduction in the House; constitutional monarchy. The Queensland Constitution Acts specifically recognise • having the discretionary powers concerning that the Parliament of Queensland consists the dissolution of the Legislative Assembly and of the Sovereign (expressed as the Crown) the appointment and dismissal of Ministers in and the Legislative Assembly. The Governor the event of a change of Government; is the personal representative of the • swearing-in the new Ministry at Government Sovereign in the State. House; The Governor is appointed by the • presiding over meetings of, and taking the Sovereign, by Commission, on the advice advice of, the Executive Council, which is tendered by the Premier. The appointment comprised of all members of the Ministry. In is for an unlimited term, but the accepted this role the Governor is titled Governor in convention is a term of five years. Council; The powers of the Governor are derived • issuing writs for the election of Queensland from his/her Commission, the Australia Senate representatives in Canberra; Acts, the Constitution (Office of Governor) Act 1987, the Constitution Act 1867 and • on the advice of the Government, issuing also by Acts which provide for approval writs for State elections; and by the Governor in Council. The Governor • granting a pardon, commuting a sentence, or in Council is a title used when the reprieving the execution of a sentence. Governor is acting by and with the advice of the Executive Council. This Council Present Governor of Queensland is constituted under Section 6 of the Constitution (Office of Governor) Act and is His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, comprised of all members of the Ministry. Governor of Queensland As the representative of the Sovereign, the The Governor was born in Brisbane in 1948, the Governor must always remain apolitical. third son of school teacher parents Ronald and The Crown represents the interests of all Moya (both now deceased). people. It is incumbent upon the Governor He won a Commonwealth Scholarship to the to ensure the people of Queensland enjoy University of Queensland, from which he graduated a continuance of stable government. in Arts in 1969 and Laws (with Honours) in 1971. The duties of the Governor include: Also in December 1971, the Governor married Kaye Brown. Mr and Mrs de Jersey have three children • granting Royal Assent to Bills passed and three grandchildren. by the Legislative Assembly, thus an Act of Parliament becomes the law of The Governor was called to the Bar at the end of the land; 1971 and was appointed as Her Majesty’s Counsel (QC) in 1981. • summoning, proroguing and dissolving Parliament on the advice of the The Governor was appointed as a Judge of the Premier; Supreme Court of Queensland in 1985, when aged 36 years, becoming the 17th Chief Justice of
Updated July 2015 P +61 7 3553 6000 www.parliament.qld.gov.au F +61 7 3553 6419 [email protected] 29.07.2014 - 29.07.2008 - 29.07.2014 29.07.2003 -29.07.2008 29.07.1997 –29.07.2003 29.07.1992 -29.07.1997 22.07.1985 -29.07.1992 22.04.1977 -22.07.1985 21.03.1972 -21.03.1977 21.03.1966 -21.03.1972 18.03.1958 -18.03.1966 01.10.1946 -04.12.1957 13.06.1932 -24.04.1946 13.06.1927 -07.04.1932 03.12.1920 -17.09.1925 15.04.1915 -03.02.1920 02.12.1909 -16.07.1914 30.11.1905 -26.05.1909 24.03.1902 -10.10.1904 09.04.1896 -19.12.1901 01.05.1889 -31.12.1895 06.11.1883 -09.11.1888 20.07.1877 -02.05.1883 23.01.1875 -14.03.1877 12.08.1871 -12.11.1874 14.08.1868 -02.01.1871 10.12.1859 -04.01.1868 Governors ofQueensland,1859-present Queensland on29July2014. Mr deJerseywasappointedthe26thGovernorof Griffith University. and hasrecentlyacceptedanhonorarydoctoratefrom and theUniversityofSouthernQueensland(2008), doctorates fromtheUniversityofQueensland(2000) a CentenaryMedalin2003.Heholdshonorary of theOrder Australia in2000,andawarded community, theGovernorwasappointedaCompanion In recognitionofhiscontributiontothe Australian role formorethan16yearsuntil8July2014. Queensland on17February1998,andservedinthat Hon Paul deJersey AC Ms Penelope Wensley AC Ms QuentinBryce AC Major-General Peter Arnison AO Mrs LeneenForde AC (firstfemale Governor) Hon SirWalter Benjamin Campbell AC QC KCMGKCVOCBEDSC Commodore SirJamesRamsay Air MarshalSirColin Thomas HannahKCMGKCVOKBECB Hon Sir KCMGKCVO Allan JamesMansfield Colonel SirHenry KCMGKCVODSO Abel Smith - FirstQueensland-bornGovernor DudleyLavarackKCMGKCVOKBECBDSO Lieutenant-General SirJohn Colonel SirLeslieOrmeWilson GCMGGCSIGCIEDSO KCB CMGDSO Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas HerbertJohnChapmanGoodwin Sir MatthewNathanGCMG Rt HonLieutenant-Colonel GCMGCB Major SirHamiltonJohnGoold-Adams Sir William CB MacGregorGCMG BaronChelmsfordGCMGGCSIGCIEGBE Rt HonFredericJohnNapier CharlesChermsideGCMGCB Major-General SirHerbert Baron LamingtonGCMG Rt HonCharlesWallace Alexander NapierCochraneBaillie General SirHenryWylie GCBGCMGCIE Norman Sir Anthony MusgraveGCMG Sir Arthur EdwardKennedy GCMBCB William Wellington CMG Cairns GCMG Marquis ofNormanbyGCB The MostNobleGeorge Augustus ConstantinePhipps Colonel SamuelWensley Blackall GCMG Sir GeorgeFergusonBowen The GovernorofQueensland Hon PauldeJersey Queensland Governor, His Excellency AC
Updated July 2015
Factsheet 2.2