Governor-General’s vow to Aussies

Sam Mostyn has vowed to be an “optimistic, modern and visible” governor-general, after she the second woman to hold the significant position.

In a morning of pomp and ceremony at Parliament House on Monday, Ms Mostyn was sworn in surrounded by dignitaries, MPs and senators, special guests and her family.

But national broadcaster was caught out mistaking Australia’s 28th governor-general with the fiancee of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during their live broadcast of the swearing-in ceremony.

ABC News TV host Gemma Veness made the blunder while Mr Albanese and Ms Haydon were filmed walking out of Parliament House to greet Ms Mostyn.

“We can see Sam Mostyn on our screens now arriving in Canberra for that swearing-in ceremony,” Veness said.

Veness corrected herself moments after.

“In fact, my apologies … that was in fact Jodie Haydon that we were looking at from a distance.”

In her speech following her swearing in, Ms Mostyn said contemporary Australia faced a number of challenges, including a rising lack of respect for women, “shrinking” opportunities for men, growing inequality and the “pernicious impact of social media”.

Speaking about gender inequality, Ms Mostyn, who was the chair the federal government’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, said “too much paid and unpaid care still falls to women”.

However she said views were changing, with men now encouraged to “confidently take on care roles and responsibilities with pride”.

“That’s not just good for women and men but for our economy and our entire Australian society,” she said.

“Care is at the heart of our distress at the shocking number of deaths of women through family violence and at the heart of our growing acceptance and celebration of cultural, sexual and gender diversity in all its forms.”

Despite the challenges, Ms Mostyn maintained her “tremendous optimism for Australia” and celebrated the achievements of Indigenous Australians, the Matildas, migrants and refugees.

“I believe these testing times call for an unstinting focus on kindness, care and respect,” she said.

“Across my career and particularly in the past decade, I have seen how care can be an uplifting force,” she added, listing the work done by volunteers, essential workers and care workers.

Speaking after the ceremony, Mr Albanese paid tribute to Ms Mostyn and spoke to her professional experience in law, business and sport.

“You have blazed so many trails for women. You have pushed open the doors of opportunity and equality. You have made a real difference for Indigenous Australians,” he said.

“For decades, you have been driven by desire to make a difference in the lives of your fellow Australians. Now and for future generations, the very sense of fairness that is the beating heart of our identity as Australians is something that you embody.”

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said Ms Mostyn was a “distinguished Australian” and thanked her predecessor and former defence chief David Hurley and his wife Linda for their service.

Ms Mostyn was sworn in by High Court Chief Justice Stephen Gagler before Mr Albanese, Mr Dutton, House Speaker Milton Dick and senators and MPs in the senate chamber.

Ms Mostyn’s husband, Sydney barrister Simeon Beckett, daughter Lotte and her father and sisters also witnessed the ceremony, which included a 21-gun salute from the Federation Guard.

“Today, I miss the presence of my mother, Jenny, who, if she was still alive, she would be the proudest person here,” she said.

Ms Mostyn is the second woman after Dame Quentin Bryce to hold the position.

Her lengthy resume showcased her achievements, including being the first woman in Australia to be appointed as AFL commissioner, where she championed the creation of the women’s competition.

She has also previously served in roles at Reconciliation Australia, Beyond Blue, the Australia Council for the Art and the National Mental Health Commission.

But her appointment hasn’t come without its controversy.

Last week the government passed legislation to provide the Governor-General with a $709,000 annual salary – $200,000 more than her predecessor.

The reason for the $200,000 boost follows the constitutional requirement that the governor-general’s pay cannot be changed in the five-year term and is set in relation to the chief justice of the High Court’s remuneration.

The pay rise sparked outrage among the Coalition and the Greens for being out of touch during a cost-of-living crisis but ultimately passed through parliament with little difficulty.