Sam Mostyn has been announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as Australia’s next governor-general. So what sort of woman is she, and why has her appointment sent the right wing media into a tizz?
It’s customary for the PM of the day to appoint a mate of some kind to this archaic position, either as a reward for services rendered, to keep them out of the way, or both. It’s also a good insurance policy against back-stabbing, although this doesn’t always pan out, once the new chief ribbon-cutter gets a taste of the good life at Yarralumla.
In the past, Ms Mostyn has worked for both Paul Keating and Anthony Albanese, but she also did a stint with Liberal premier Dominic Perrottet, post-COVID, to assist in managing reforms of childcare and public sector parental leave.
She’s not the first GG with republican sympathies (that would be Bill Hayden), and not the first woman (Quentin Bryce preceded her), but she is probably the most well-rounded person to occupy the office, with lived experience across many areas and issues, including mental health (she was the chair of Beyond Blue), transport, telecommunications, the law, disabilities, insurance, sport (the Olympics and AFL), banking, the arts (particularly the music industry and theatre), gendered violence and climate change.
Canberra connections
Samantha Joy Mostyn is no stranger to Canberra, having been born in the city of roundabouts in 1965 and later studying arts and law at ANU. Her father was an army colonel who served in Vietnam after graduating from Duntroon.
She is a mover and shaker by anyone’s standards. She has served on an enormous number of boards, foundations and commissions, and in 2021 was named by The Australian Financial Review as Australia’s most influential company director, serving on boards with a market capitalisation of $480 billion.
So why do some of the rich list and their media mouthpieces hate her? It appears to come down to her activism. In the past, Sam Mostyn has told the truth about Australia’s history, describing 26 January as Invasion Day. She’s also spoken about the undervalued work of women in Australia, and understands the terrifying science of the climate crisis, through her work with the Climate Council, the Climate Change Authority and 1 Million Women.
A proud feminist, she is the latest recipient of a Grand Stirrer Award (previous winners include Brittany Higgins, Sally McManus and Destroy the Joint), and has also been recognised by the UN and as an Officer of the Order of Australia. The Mostyn Medal, awarded annually for best and fairest player in the women’s AFL competition in Sydney, is named after her.
None of this impresses Murdoch factotum and culture warrior Janet Albrechtsen one iota. The day after Mr Albanese announced Sam Mostyn would be replacing General David Hurley as governor-general, Ms Albrechtsen wrote that she lacked the relevant experience and shouldn’t have been offered the gig because she was female, before going on to suggest that the appointment was evidence of ‘one new group of oppressors putting the squeeze on a new group of oppressed’.
Queen Woke
The ultra-right wing astroturf group Advance put out a ridiculous press release entitled ‘Why Queen Woke’s appointment matters’, saying Mostyn’s appointment showed Albo’s ‘bad judgement and his contempt for you and your country,’ noting that she had ‘campaigned against the majority of Australians in the divisive Voice referendum’.
At the other end of the spectrum, someone who has direct experience of Sam Mostyn’s positive impact on the ground is the writer Mark Mordue, who commented after the surprising news that ‘Sam’s a total powerhouse’ with a genuine long-term commitment to mental health in the community, women’s rights, the environment, and literature, as well as corporate ethics and engagement.
He noted that her ‘full heart’ involvement in causes went beyond the symbolic to the personal, although it seems clear her new role will be largely symbolic. That’s not to say that symbols aren’t important.
Like the human appendix, it’s not quite clear what the governor-general actually does, but we know there can be severe consequences which things go wrong, as the examples of Sir John Kerr and Peter Hollingworth have shown. Perhaps, like Mikhail Gorbachev in the USSR, GG Mostyn will be the last of her kind, and will oversee the demise of her own expensive taxpayer-subsidised position? We will have to wait and see if Albo and friends have the courage to advance the republican agenda.
Sam Mostyn will take up her new appointment as the 28th governor-general of Australia in July.
Originally from Canberra, David Lowe is an award-winning film-maker, writer and photographer with particular interests in the environment and politics. He’s known for his campaigning work with Cloudcatcher Media.
Long ago, he did work experience in Parliament House with Mungo MacCallum.
When the Righties go into collective unhinged meltdown over the Samantha’s appointment, you know that PM Albo has nailed the new appointment.
Go well Govenor General Samantha.
I see Joachim..so the new GG how is it possible
For this woman to be Impartial ? She is as woke
As anyone in the labor party or the Greens..
Invasion day ! Untapped when the voice voted down ! Just some of her commentary…
Hard left at best !
Really woke, do you bandy around slogans in ignorance?
Mr Barrow, it’s about time the extreme right WOKE up to themselves and gave us all a break.
Extreme right Keith ? You keep mentioning
This ! ..for what good reason mate ?
Far right in my opinion is a normal person
That votes conservative… never forget
Mr Duncan that the majority of violence
the world over comes from the far left ..
Facts not fiction Keith..
My God the extreme right have certainly got their knickers in a knot over this one, any normal person would just congratulate a great Australian who has spent a lifetime of advocating for a better deal for disadvantaged people. Those extreme right idiots on Sky News haven’t stopped hyperventilating since Albo appointed her, small issues amuse small minds I suppose.
You keep calling the conservatives “extreme right”. Does that make my anti-Israel guys ‘far-right’ or ‘extreme white’? I’m not as extremely white as you imagine, we have broad definitions, but get back to me with the new definitions you have made up for well-defined, pre-existing political terms.
Mr/Mrs CVS, I extremely doubt whether I would “get back to you” with any sort of definitions, sorry.
It is not that Sam is left, or right. It is that she has worked actively inside one political party, showing her hand. Someone with that history should not be eligible to be GG simply because of the percieved taint. It would equally be the case for someone who had worked for an extended period for the Coalition. There are plenty of capable and respected luminaries who have no history with political parties, and we should choose from that list if for no other reason than optics.
One overpaid ‘waste of space’ is as good as another.
Cheers, G”)
She has made a very profitable career from being the gender and quota pick for a position . Her being appointed GG is no different.
Gosh – women can’t be just two of 27? And with all her qualifications you reckon it’s because of some quota? I guess all those blokes got there on their outstanding suitability!! A lot of men have made very profitable careers out of just being blokes. No problems with that?
Male isn’t the default position you know.
Well David, wonders never cease – it seemed as if you actually expressed approval of something Albanese’s done. Even your mate Joachim seems to have given the choice and the PM the nod! 🤯
But wait, we can’t quite get to the end without the inevitable snide back-hander. “We will have to wait and see if Albo and friends have the courage to advance the republican agenda.” I’m not sure if you’re aware but this government actually has a ministry dedicated to the advancement of an Australian republic – at present occupied by Matt Thistlethwaite.
Who, other than a hostile provocateur, would advise the government to pursue another referendum in the near future without bipartisan support. What are the chances of holding even a vaguely factual and intelligent debate – let alone achieving bipartisanship – in our present Trumpian political climate? Respectful and unifying? Good luck with that. If Labor proposed a yes vote on motherhood, it would be vociferously opposed and turned into a cluster🤬.
Incidentally, imagining Samantha Mostyn as the last GG may be a tad optimistic – and naive. The role is likely to remain beyond the time we eventually break ties with the British monarchy. Anyone who was around for the huge disappointment of the turn of century republic referendum, understand that it’s not as simple as waving farewell to the Windsors. It was the question of how to replace them – and fill the void left in our Constitution – that sunk the last vote.
I can’t think of a better person to perform this role and, much as I’d love to see Sam as the last King’s representative in Aus, I doubt she’ll be the last GG – republic or not.
Lizardbreath whats makes the latest appointment
as GG an ideal Captain’s pick ! Or in your words
no better representative ?
Ah Barrow, where to start:
Intelligence
Demeanour
Compassion
Erudition
Legal background
Breadth of experience in corporate, sporting, community and social equity fields
Do doubt excellent ribbon cutting skills and good fashion sense.
I’m sure I could go on but they’re the ones that immediately spring to mind. Then there are a couple of other good qualifications.
When she makes the 27th GG, she’ll be the 2nd only woman and only the 13th born in Australia. Anyone who thinks she will be the first one to have political allegiances – at least she’s worked for both sides – needs to look up the list of British aristocracy, military leaders, politicians, legal eagles and Anglican clergy who have made up the King’s/Queen’s men (mainly) of the past.
Who would you suggest – Tony Abbott?
Time will tell ..and can assure the role of the GG is to be Impartial..the suggestion that
This latest appointment will work with
All levels of government Lizardbreath
Is far-fetched.. as for Tony Abbott
Why not …at least he had Australia’s
Best interests… my opinion ! Bob Hawke
Or John Howard would have as well !
and again any future GG who refers
To Australia 🇦🇺 Day as invasion day
Is the right Choice ? Iam patriotic
Is the GG Lizardbreath ?
What’s patriotic Barrow? Stuffed if I know what it means. Samual Johnson said it was the last refuge of the scoundrel
I have a visceral tendency to back anything Aussie and I can yell “Aussie Aussie Aussie oi oi oi” with the best of them! Does that make me patriotic? Is recognising that, to the indigenous population, 1788 represented invasion, unpatriotic? What makes it so? I do wonder what else you’d call it and what trying to deny it achieves.
I’d certainly hope the GG has some knowledge of Australian history, understands the importance of reconciliation and has a broad and informed view of what patriotism means.
Amazing that nonsense is still spruiked about Australia becoming or not becoming a Republic. In fact it already is. By convention the King/Queen of Australia has no actual power. The bold interpretation by Kerr was his initiative not the Queen’s. Conventions may appear weak but we have had Prime Ministers appoint Ministers and form governments even though no such creature =PM is mentioned in the Australian Constitution. The Government appoints the GG and can fire them. Sounds like a republic to me.
Not so sure it’s that straightforward citizen. No one really knew if Kerr had the right to sack the PM or not – there was not consensus among scholars. Perhaps read ‘The Palace Letters’ by Prof J Hocking. Regardles, I agree with David Lowe that symbolism counts and I think having a privileged hereditary, exclusively Anglican and foreign monarch as our head of state does not reflect modern Australia. Even they think we’re mad!!
Wow some people are really put out by her appointment as the new gg. Maybe they should look at who have been past ggs and get a grip on what it means. Really I suppose they wanted another bland ex military type again.
Rod seriously Man ! Bland military type ?
You going to refer to our defence forces as bland
When not if but when war comes knocking !
See our tasteless and bland you become
Disrespectful ! Expect anything different from the modern left … No
See this is the issue barrow you just want the same old type of person appointed over and over again not representing the whole gamut of society. By the way what is the modern left?
They are not supposed to represent the people, society, or thing like that. They are supposed to check the constitutionality of legislation so that it doesn’t end up causing endless High Court challenges. They notionally carry this duty out in place of the King doing it himself.
You want someone a bit presentable though, at the ribbon cuttings. And what I’ve read about the karaoke nights at Yarralumla makes me cringe. What stories will the foreign dignitaries take back?
Well, it would be nice if they think we are a bunch of incompetent fools. It makes them put their guard down.
Ah – it’s all a cunning plan 😈!
If they had any intelligence, they would appoint Julian Assange. Think about it
I can’t see one problem with Albo appointing a lefty white woman, the appointment had to include a woman to appease the woke, the fact she is a professional board member with lefty ideology and narrative doesn’t matter, what can possibly go wrong?, nothing to see here. I am sure the King couldn’t care less anyway.
Amazing – all these troglodytes finding something strange about a woman in the job!
Your right, it should be a woman of colour…..how about Mrs Price?
You’re *
(sorry, not sorry – couldn’t help myself)
ur right!
tee hee
But how would the LNP do without her?
Ms Price ticks all the boxes for the GG
Position..female and Aboriginal perfect
Choice…agree !
Wouldn’t that be a bit TOO woke?
After the first dozen unconstitutional bills she refuses to give royal assent to, you would all be calling her ‘Black Hitler’ and ‘White Supremacist’.
Not at all Lizardbreath..”iam strong.. iam invincible.. iam woman ” sound familiar !
My wife and my daughter and my mother and sister are excellent examples.. loving..never take a backwards step ..compassionate..
No substitute to mothers Lizardbreath…
The jury is out regarding the GG’s appointment ..as previously mentioned
Impartiality is one of the Charters of the role
Will watch with interest..although how many years have the Taxpayer’s been patiently
Waiting for the national broadcaster to be
Impartial ? 🤔
Barrow, did you think I meant YOU when I referred to troglodytes.
I may be old fashioned with a womb in these
Current times Lizardbreath..feel offended really !
You have a womb Barrow?
Jacinta price is over qualified for the job, however somehow I suspect our wonderful lefty Albo could not bring himself to appoint a true blue champion legend to the job, not woke enough, not left enough, not compliant enough, too good for the job.
Gosh, the capacity of you lot to run a consistent argument is abysmal!! How could you deem a sitting member of the National Party to be a prime candidate for political impartiality but see it as hardly possible for someone who’s worked for both Labor and the Libs? 🤯
Frankly I think everyone has “allegiances” but that doesn’t have to hinder their capacity for objective judgement. Some can even manage consistency‼️😱
How about Julian Gillespie of Suffolk Park? He is the most valuable person in the Northern Rivers, the most over qualified for the job, reads the Echo comment section, and yes, I’m totally sucking up to you with these true statements. You’re a rock star, and thank you for your service to Australia.
Settle down breath of the lizard, ever heard of hyperthetical?, you must stop trying to be the moderator always, go with it, have some fun.
What’s hyperthetical (sic) or even the hypothetical got to do with anything? And I am having fun – too much of it!
Wow these people are giving way to much imaginary power to the gg. CVS has them vetoing “ unconstitutional “ laws, that is the roll of the courts not the gg. Really the conspiracy people out in force but no one has explained what the modern left is, maybe a sky after dark whacko idea like sprouting woke every time.