OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR ANNUAL REPORT 2017 – 2018 The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk MP Premier of Queensland PO Box 15185 CITY EAST QLD 4002 Dear Premier, I am pleased to submit for presentation to the Parliament the 2017/18 Annual Report and financial statements of the Office of the Governor. I certify that this Annual Report: • Complies with the prescribed requirements of the Financial Accountability Act 2009 and the Financial and Performance Management Standard 2009; and • Reflects the achievements of the Office in providing an effective and accountable agency which supports the Governor of Queensland. Yours sincerely Mark Gower AM OAM(Mil) Official Secretary 24 September 2018 Official Secretary’s Summary The 2017/18 financial year marked the The Office supported the Governor’s fourth year of the original tenure of extensive program prior to and during the His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Games, focused on celebrating the Games Jersey AC. The year saw the Office of the themselves and on promoting the Games’ Governor provide timely, professional economic, cultural and reconciliation legacy support for His Excellency and in Queensland. His Excellency welcomed the Mrs de Jersey in fulfilling a wide range Queen’s Baton Relay’s arrival in Singapore of constitutional, ceremonial and and at Government House in Brisbane; community roles in the State, and in cheered on Australian athletes in Games promoting Queensland overseas. events; promoted trade and investment in Queensland, particularly the Gold Coast; The Office supported the Governor’s 55 visits supported the Games Reconciliation Action to regional and remote centres in the State, Plan; and hosted His Royal Highness the assisting him to continue to ensure that as Prince of Wales, HRH the Duchess of many Queenslanders as possible, wherever in Cornwall, and HRH the Earl of Wessex the State they reside, had the opportunity to during their Games-related visits to the State. see and meet the Governor. Managing the Government House estate, The Office assisted the Governor in whose fabric ranges widely from an undertaking the third Regional Government Mark Gower AM OAM(Mil) original house built in 1865 to 10 hectares House of his tenure, in Mackay from 17 to Official Secretary of well-preserved remnant bushland, is a 23 August 2017, managing, coordinating substantial undertaking for the small team at and implementing the extensive program. Government House. In 2017/18, the Office During Mackay Regional Government continued to balance the many functional, House, the Governor undertook 32 heritage, security and other requirements of program commitments in five locations the estate, which was visited by 21,522 people in the immediate region, and in Charters in the 12-month period, in order to maintain Towers. The Governor’s program in Mackay, and, where possible, enhance the heritage Whitsunday and Isaac Local Government values of the estate. areas focused particularly on first-hand briefing by local councils and emergency The Deputy Official Secretary, Ms Cecily services personnel on ongoing recovery efforts Pearson OAM, retired in May 2018 following from the severe damage caused by Cyclone 10 years of service to three Governors of Debbie in the region in March 2017. Queensland. Following a comprehensive and competitive recruitment and selection process, The period in review included important Ms Kate Hastings was appointed Deputy anniversaries associated with the final two Official Secretary in April 2018, allowing a years of World War I. The Governor’s two-week handover with Ms Pearson and a program for the year had a substantial focus thorough induction program. on solemn commemoration of the service and sacrifice of Australian men and women in The Office continued to pursue and refine the Great War. This included a visit to Be’er the Government House social media strategy Sheva (formerly Beersheba) in Israel for the on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to centenary commemorations of the famed reach more Queenslanders, enhance their charge of the Australian 4th Light Horse understanding of the role of Governor, and Brigade in the Battle of Beersheba. make access to information on the activities of the Governor richer, more timely, and The Commonwealth Games were held on more transparent. the Gold Coast in April 2018, bringing to Queensland 6,600 athletes and officials, The Governor acted as Administrator of Heads of State and other senior government the Government of the Commonwealth figures, business people, and visitors from of Australia on four occasions during the the 71 nations and territories that compete reporting period. The Office continues to in the Games. work closely with Government House in Canberra to ensure the proper and effective fulfilment of the Administrator’s duties. [04] OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR, QUEENSLAND The Office also supported the Honourable ɶ Providing public access to the In 2017/18, the Office Chief Justice Catherine Holmes, the Government House estate through a Honourable Justice Walter Sofronoff, planned public engagement strategy continued to balance the Honourable Justice Hugh Fraser, the that incorporates an annual Open Honourable Justice Philip Morrison, and Day, participation in Brisbane Open the many functional, the Honourable Justice Philip McMurdo House, tours by community groups, heritage, security and in fulfilling the duties of Acting Governor and the Government House Christmas as required including, in October 2017, the Lights display; other requirements of dissolving of the 55th Queensland Parliament the estate, which was and the issuing of a writ for a general election ɶ Initiating free tours of the House each by Chief Justice Holmes as Acting Governor. month that can be booked directly by visited by 21,522 people members of the public; in the 12-month period 2017/18 PRIORITIES ɶ Implementing a program of work to manage, maintain and improve INCLUDED: facilities across the heritage-listed ɶ Coordinating the Governor’s extensive Government House estate, in program of travel and engagement with conjunction with the Department Queenslanders, particularly to regional of Housing and Public Works; and remote communities throughout the State; ɶ Providing ongoing implementation of the Bushland Management ɶ Coordinating Regional Government Plan to preserve and enhance the House in Mackay; environmental value of the bushland areas of the estate; ɶ Facilitating the Governor’s patronage of, and support for, community ɶ Continuing to implement the organisations by means of vice- recommendations of the Safety regal visits, speeches and messages, Management System audit reports; attendance at external receptions and at celebrations of significant milestones ɶ Updating the Strategic Plan and anniversaries; 2017–2022 and facilitating its ongoing implementation; ɶ Coordinating receptions and events hosted at Government House, ɶ Continuing to deliver administrative, including a program of investiture financial management, and corporate ceremonies, and the associated governance improvements; administrative, logistical and ɶ Equipping staff with contemporary hospitality requirements of knowledge and skills that support the these events; work of the Office through professional ɶ Providing high-level advice and support development and core skills training; to the Governor and Acting Governor and in performing their constitutional ɶ Publishing a free, publicly duties, including those associated with available, online booklet outlining the 2017 State election, presiding at the contributions to the State of weekly Executive Council meetings, the spouses of the Governors of granting Royal Assent to bills, issuing Queensland. and receiving writs, handling petitions, processing correspondence relating to constitutional and legal requirements, and conducting the swearing-in of Ministers; ANNUAL REPORT 2017/18 [05] Official Secretary’s Summary OUTLOOK FOR 2018/19 During 2018/19, the Office of the Governor will continue to provide high-level executive support and expert and responsive advice to enable the Governor and/or Acting Governors to fulfil constitutional, ceremonial and community duties as the representative of Queensland’s Head of State. In addition, the Office will: ɶ Maximise opportunities for Queenslanders to meet their Governor through an extensive program of regional travel and community engagements, including planning and implementing the fourth Regional Government House, to be located in Far North Queensland; ɶ Continue to offer free guided tours of the estate for school and community ɶ Continue to provide a strong Corporate groups, including monthly tours that Governance Framework to ensure that individual members of the public best practice organisational and fiscal Fernberg's State Dining Room can book directly with Government standards are met; once again hosted dinners for House; ɶ Support the Governor during royalty, outstanding Queensland ɶ Support opportunities for the periods when His Excellency is contributors, and community leaders Governor to promote Queensland to Administrator of the Government of from all aspects of the State. high-level visitors to the State, and to the Commonwealth of Australia, and strengthen Queensland’s international support the Acting Governor to fulfil relationships; duties as required; ɶ Continue to undertake works that ɶ Continue to work in conjunction preserve and protect the heritage with the Department of Housing and horticultural assets of the and Public Works to prioritise the Government House