Australia's First Female Governor General

CHEN:
And moving onto Australia, which has a new governor general. She took her oath at a ceremony in Canberra today. Let's take a look.

STORY:
Quentin Alice Louise Bryce is the first woman in Australia to hold such office. Australian prime minister Kevin Rudd and his wife Therese Rein welcomed her to Parliament House where the sixty-six-year-old was sworn in.

She was the governor of Queensland when Rudd recommended her to Britain's Queen Elizabeth.

Bryce was one of the first women to be admitted to the Queensland bar and is known for her work with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission.

The office of the Governor General was created in 1901 and represents the Queen in the Commonwealth. This position is currently seen as a ceremonial one, but if needed she has the power to appoint a prime minister if an election has resulted in a "hung parliament."

In 1975, the governor general of the time dismissed the government amid a political crisis. This sparked a fierce debate in succeeding decades for Australia to move to become a republic.

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[donniedarko20]

"Recomended to Britains Queen, ELizabeth"? Actually, she is Australias Queen, Elizabeth II.

[Kushanjaya]

That sentence struck me too... >_>

Obviously here shes Australia's Queen Elizabeth II.

I hope more people understand that Australia is much better off in its current system and by changing it, you are changing the very Constitution, the very system, the very flag, which has always worked, always kept democracy and what thousands of great Australians died for.

Say No to a republic in Australia!

Long live Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Australia!

[geroni2100]

The Australian Constitutional Monarchy workers well becauce we have non- paterson head of state that if needed can disolve the house of repersentetives and call new general election . Just imagine if australia becomes republic what mess it will be we'll have a president and a prime minister both caming from a political party and the result is political crisis. SO AUSTRALIANS KEEP SAING NO TO THE REPUBLIC. GOD SAVE THE QUEEN OF AUSTRALIA AND LONG MAY SHE REIGN OVER US

[aussieeagle2512]

@donniedarko20 That being said, should a country of over 20 million people be over-seen by a Commissioned Officer of a Monarch whos pre-dominant role is reigning in another country? I still think having a Sovereign Prince of Australia is the best solution. The Prince could be crowned by the Queen of Australia but the Prince would own all crown land and we'd swear allegiance to him. Essentially he'd be a super-noble and he would be the recognised Head of State of Australia around the world.

[OzTrackDays]

This woman helped to destroy the Queensland constitution and now she is on the federal constitution - Brilliant ! Wake up Australia you are being robbed. Monachy v Republic , left v right - it's all bullshit - criminals are running your country - get it ?

[canadianna21206]

@Kushanjaya

and in Canada she is Canada's Queen, Queen of Canada! just ;like in other Commonwealth realms :)

Say No to a republic in Australia, Canada or New-Zealand!

Long live Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Australia!

Long live Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Canada!

God Bless the Commonwealth of Australia and the Dominion of Canada!

[LordWellington15]

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN AND HER MIGHTY EMPIRE!!! Greetings from BNA!

[ianmann64]

canBERRA? Which school did this guy go to?

[LoRdEmiLiuS]

she's a woman. Michaëlle Jean.

[Elfraddor]

Well, sounds like he was doing one of his responsibilities then.

[bobbobbob333Q]

FFS can we move onto a republic already. Canadian Govenor general just suspended their parliament.