Judicial Vice-Regal Service Dinner

The Honourable Chief Justice Helen Bowskill, Your Honours, and your respective partners. Good evening, all.

I begin by acknowledging the Original Custodians of the lands around Brisbane, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay my respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

Thank you for joining Graeme and me for this special dinner to recognise and thank the judicial leaders who have given such excellent support to me and to the Office of the Governor during my term.  

The bench and bar have dined often at this magnificent table in the 130 years since it was built for Queensland’s original Government House in the Domain, and while the majority of my 26 predecessors as Governor have come from military, diplomatic or administrative backgrounds, the host at many of those Vice-Regal dinners was a former Chief Justice!  

Three eminent Chief Justices have served as Governor in Queensland’s history: Sir Alan Mansfield, Sir Walter Campbell, and, most recently, The Honourable Paul de Jersey, but several other Chief Justices made a significant contribution to our Colony and State as Administrators, namely Sir James Blair, The Honourable William Mack and Sir Mostyn Hangar.

The arrangements for Acting and Deputy Governors today reflect the changes made to the Queensland constitution in 2001. Those changes have produced a much more flexible appointment system which has enabled a significant increase in the number and range of activities that can be undertaken by contemporary Governors, including promoting our State internationally.  

Until those changes, it would have been very challenging for both my Office and the administrators in the court system to coordinate the appointments that are now a necessary part of the role of Governor. 

Since I was sworn in as Governor on 1 November 2021, there have been 59 occasions on which Chief Justices and Judges have stepped into the role. 

Over that time, there have been 13 different justices appointed as Acting or Deputy Governor, and collectively, they have given a total of 279 days – more than nine months! – of service. 

I am most grateful to them for the willingness with which that responsibility has been accepted. 

Whether it has been for just a day or for several weeks,4 you, your families and staff have responded positively to these appointments, and I thank you sincerely for that.  

Please enjoy your evening.