Swearing-In Ceremony and Executive Council Meeting

The Honourable Chief Justice Helen Bowskill; Ministers, the Honourable Leeanne Enoch MP and the Honourable Di Farmer MP; the Honourable Justice Jean Dalton; the Honourable Justice Peter Flanagan, my Official Secretary, Mrs Kate Hastings, welcome.

Thank you all, for joining me on this very special occasion.

I begin by acknowledging the original custodians of the lands of Brisbane, the Turrbul and Jagera people, and pay my respect to Elders, past, present and emerging.

I wholeheartedly offer my sincere congratulations to Justice Dalton and Justice Flanagan on being sworn in as Acting Governors.

You may be pleased to hear that I don’t expect your duties as Acting Governors to be too onerous! Though, I must say I will be keeping our Chief Justice on her toes in May, when she will assume Acting Governor duties while Graeme and I travel to the United Kingdom for the coronation of our new monarch, King Charles III.

Thank you in advance, Helen. I’m sure, like me, you are pleased to welcome Justices Dalton and Flanagan to the ranks!

I do not need to remind such eminent legal minds of the constitutional significance of the administration of Government by an Acting Governor or the delegation of the Governor’s powers to a Deputy Governor.

This is a constitutional duty of the utmost importance, and I trust you will take pride and some degree of pleasure in exercising the duties when required, to ensure the efficient operation of the Constitution in Queensland.

Ministers, I would also like to thank you for witnessing today’s swearing-in and joining us for today’s luncheon.

I know you all share my sentiment that serving the people of Queensland is both an honour and a privilege. It is similarly an honour and privilege to serve alongside such upstanding individuals as yourselves.

Thank you for your contributions to this State.