Happy Queensland Day!

A Message from the Governor of Queensland on Queensland Day 2023

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the lands around Queensland and pay my respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

As we mark Queensland Day, I wish to express my deep pride in our State and heartfelt gratitude that I can call this vibrant and beautiful place home.

In the past year, I have endeavoured to visit as many Queenslanders as possible where they live, in regional towns and centres, and in the Far north and west.

Everywhere I go, I am reminded of Queensland’s sheer natural beauty, with landscapes that take your breath away and remind you that we are all part of something much bigger.

From the Great Barrier Reef to the vast wilderness of Cape York, down through rugged plains of the State’s central west to the lush hills and valleys of the Great Dividing Range, Queensland is unlike any place on Earth.

I visit many communities that rely on the land and its natural resources, including in agriculture and mining, but equally as many that rely on our pristine coastline and landscapes to provide for them, be it through tourism, fishing, or other industries.

Then there are those among us with an enduring and close relationship to the land, particularly among our Indigenous communities.

I meet so many individuals who volunteer their time and energy to help those in need, and for whom success means improving the lives of others.

And I represent many groups whose focus is ensuring Queensland remains a wonderful place to live, work, raise a family and further a career or business enterprise.

To me, this is the essence of what it is to be a Queenslander.

It’s truly remarkable what we’ve managed to achieve together, creating near limitless business and work opportunities and a lifestyle that has proved difficult to resist for many interstate and overseas visitors in recent times.

On behalf of Graeme and myself, and all of us here at Government House, I wish you a very happy Queensland Day.