Governor of Queensland

Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Template:Use Australian English Template:Infobox official post The governor of Queensland is the representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in the state of Queensland.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In an analogous way to the governor-general at the national level, the governor performs constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level. In particular the governor has the power to appoint and dismiss the premier of Queensland and all other ministers in the Cabinet, and issue writs for the election of the state parliament.

The current governor of Queensland, former Chief Health Officer of Queensland Jeannette Young, was sworn in on 1 November 2021.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The chief justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, currently Helen Bowskill, acts in the position of governor in the governor's absence. In June 2014, Queen Elizabeth II, upon the recommendation of then-Premier Campbell Newman, accorded all current, future and living former governors the title The Honourable in perpetuity.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Official residence

The governor has resided at Government House, Brisbane since 1910. The mansion, set in Template:Convert of gardens and bushland in the Brisbane suburb of Paddington, is also known as Fernberg.<ref name="qhr">Template:Cite QHR</ref> Unlike Fernberg, the original Government House was purpose-built and was used from 1862 to 1910; the building still exists today on the grounds of Queensland University of Technology's CBD campus.<ref>Template:Cite QHR</ref>

Constitutional provisions

The office of the governor was initially established by letters patent issued by Queen Victoria on the founding of Queensland in 1867. However, up until 1977 the office was not formally recognised in Queensland legislation, with the powers of the governor set down in the letters patent and in an imperial order in council which preserved the effect of the Australian Constitutions Act 1842 (Imp) (the document that granted NSW a semi-elected assembly) as regard to the governor and restricted the power of the Queensland assembly to remove the position. However, following the 1975 Dismissal crisis then premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Peterson amended the Constitution Act 1867 (Qld) to replicate the provisions of the order in council. This was done as the order in council only applied due to the continuing authority of the British Parliament in regard to the states. It was feared that a future Commonwealth government would either assert or acquire by consent the exiting powers of the imperial parliament over the states, giving them the power to either abolish the office or make it subordinate to the governor-general, allowing the Commonwealth to order the state governor to refuse royal assent to state bills. This amendment provision was doubly entrenched, requiring a referendum for the provisions about the governor to be amended or removed. Following the passage of the Australia Act 1986, the power of the British Parliament to legislate for the states has been removed. However, there remains academic doubts of the legal effectiveness of the double entrenchment provisions.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref>

The Constitution Act 2001 consolidated the previous constitutional documents, including the most recent letters-patent, leaving the role of the governor fully defined by Australian law.<ref>Template:Cite Legislation AU</ref> However, the doubly entrenched provisions of the 1867 constitution remains in place as a referendum was not sought to amend them.<ref name=":0" />

In accordance with the conventions of the Westminster system of parliamentary government, the governor nearly always acts solely on the advice of the head of the elected government, the Premier of Queensland. The governor may exercise reserve powers (powers able to be used in the absence of or contrary to advice) only in limited circumstances.

The Queensland Constitution expressly provides that the governor "is not subject to direction by any person and is not limited as to the Governor's sources of advice" on the appointment or dismissal of ministers (s 35), another provision inserted by the Bjelke-Petersen government in the wake of the 1975 federal dismissal. This provision worked against Bjelke-Petersen when, in the dying days of his government in November 1987, he tried and failed to convince governor Sir Walter Campbell to remove several ministers to shore up his own support within Parliament. When the parliamentary wing of the National Party deposed Bjelke-Petersen and elected one of the dissident ministers, Mike Ahern, as the new leader of the National Party, Bjelke-Petersen initially refused to resign as premier and Sir Walter resisted calls to dismiss him. Bjelke-Petersen elected to resign on 1 December 1987.Template:Citation needed

The governor is head of the Executive Council, a Queensland equivalent to the Federal Executive Council. The Council is composed of ministers from the government of the day. The Chief Justice of Queensland and other judges in the Queensland judicial system are appointed by the governor acting on the advice of the Executive Council.Template:Citation needed

Governor's standard

Template:Infobox flag The governor's standard comprises a Union Jack with a white roundel in the centre with the state badge of Queensland: a light blue Maltese cross, surmounted by a royal crown and surrounded by garland of laurel leaves.<ref name=":1">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The general design of standards for British governors was approved by Queen Victoria in 1869. The design for governors of Queensland was created and flown as a personal standard since 1876, when the Maltese cross was adopted as the colonial badge.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name=":1" />

If the standard is flying at Government House, on a vehicle or at an event, this indicates that the governor is present.<ref name=":1" />

Past and present standards of the governor

• Flag of the Governor of Queensland (1901-1952).svg

  1876–1963, bearing a Tudor crown<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

• Flag of the Governor of Queensland.svg

  1963–present, bearing a St. Edward's crown

List of governors of Queensland

The first Australian born Governor of Queensland was Lieutenant-General Sir John Lavarack (appointed 1946). His successor, Sir Henry Abel Smith, the husband of the niece of Queen Mary, Lady May Abel-Smith, was British. All subsequent governors have been Australian-born, except for Leneen Forde, who was born in Canada but who emigrated to Australia at an early age.

Prior to the Separation of Queensland in 1859, it was part of New South Wales under the governors of New South Wales.

There have been 26 past governors of Queensland, prior to the current governor:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

No.	Portrait	Template:Small Governor Template:Small Template:Small	Term of office		Monarch
1	Portrait	Template:AnchorTemplate:Small Sir George Bowen Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1859	Template:Small 1868	Victoria
			Template:Age in years and days
2	Portrait	Template:Small Samuel Blackall Template:Small	Template:Small 1868	Template:Small 1871
			Template:Age in years and days
3	Portrait	Template:Small George Phipps Template:Small Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1871	Template:Small 1874
			Template:Age in years and days
4	Portrait	Template:Small Sir William Cairns Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1875	Template:Small 1877
			Template:Age in years and days
5	Portrait	Template:Small Sir Arthur Kennedy Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1877	Template:Small 1883
			Template:Age in years and days
6	Portrait	Template:Small Sir Anthony Musgrave Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1883	Template:Small 1888
			Template:Age in years and days
7	Portrait	Template:Nowrap Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1889	Template:Small 1895
			Template:Age in years and days
8	Portrait	Template:Nowrap Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1896	Template:Small 1901
			Template:Age in years and days		Edward VII
9	Photograph	Template:Small Sir Herbert Chermside Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1902	Template:Small 1904
			Template:Age in years and days
10	Photograph	Template:Small Frederic Thesiger Template:Small Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1905	Template:Small 1909
			Template:Age in years and days
11	Photograph	Template:Small Sir William MacGregor Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1909	Template:Small 1914
			Template:Age in years and days		George V
12	Photograph	Template:Small Sir Hamilton Goold-Adams Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1915	Template:Small 1920
			Template:Age in years and days
13	Photograph	Template:Small Sir Matthew Nathan Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1920	Template:Small 1925
			Template:Age in years and days
14	Photograph	Template:Small Sir John Goodwin Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1927	Template:Small 1932
			Template:Age in years and days
15	Photograph	Template:Small Sir Leslie Wilson Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1932	Template:Small 1946	Edward VIII
			Template:Age in years and days		George VI
16	Photograph	Template:Small Sir John Lavarack Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1946	Template:Small 1957
			Template:Age in years and days		Elizabeth II
17	Photograph	Template:Small Sir Henry Abel Smith Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1958	Template:Small 1966
			Template:Age in years and days
18	Photograph	Template:Small Sir Alan Mansfield Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1966	Template:Small 1972
			Template:Age in years and days
19	Photograph	Template:Small Sir Colin Hannah Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1972	Template:Small 1977
			Template:Age in years and days
20	Photograph	Template:Small Sir James Ramsay Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1977	Template:Small 1985
			Template:Age in years and days
21	Photograph	Template:Small Sir Walter Campbell Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1985	Template:Small 1992
			Template:Age in years and days
22	Photograph	Template:Small Leneen Forde Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1992	Template:Small 1997
			Template:Age in years and days
23	Photograph	Template:Small Peter Arnison Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 1997	Template:Small 2003
			Template:Age in years and days
24	Photograph	Template:Small Quentin Bryce Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 2003	Template:Small 2008
			Template:Age in years and days
25	Photograph	Template:Small Penelope Wensley Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 2008	Template:Small 2014
			Template:Age in years and days
26	Photograph	Template:Small Paul de Jersey Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 2014	Template:Small 2021
			Template:Age in years and days
27	Photograph	Template:Small Jeannette Young Template:Small Template:Small	Template:Small 2021	Incumbent
					Charles III
			Template:Age in years and days

List of administrators and lieutenant-governors of Queensland

Administrators and lieutenant-governors are deputy roles generally appointed to carry out the duties of the governor when the governor is unavailable, due to travel or illness. If one is not appointed, then the duties are carried out by the Chief Justice of Queensland (or the most senior judge available).<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The following are the administrators and lieutenant-governors of Queensland:<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Name	Term	Notes
Maurice Charles O'Connell	4 January 1868 – 14 August 1868	Administrator
Maurice Charles O'Connell	2 January 1871 – 12 August 1871	Administrator
Maurice Charles O'Connell	12 November 1874 – 23 January 1875	Administrator
Maurice Charles O'Connell	14 March 1877 – 10 April 1877	Administrator
Arthur Edward Kennedy	10 April 1877 – 20 July 1877	Administrator
Joshua Peter Bell	19 March 1880 – 22 November 1880	Administrator
Arthur Hunter Palmer	2 May 1883 – 6 November 1883	Administrator
Arthur Hunter Palmer	20 April 1886 – 13 December 1886	Administrator
Arthur Hunter Palmer	9 October 1888 – 1 May 1889	Administrator
Arthur Hunter Palmer	15 November 1895 – 9 April 1896	Lieutenant Governor Administrator
Samuel Griffith	21 June 1901 – 24 March 1902	Lieutenant Governor
Hugh Muir Nelson	10 October 1904 – 30 November 1905	Lieutenant Governor
Arthur Morgan	27 May 1909 – 2 December 1909	Lieutenant Governor
Arthur Morgan	16 July 1914 – 15 March 1915	Lieutenant Governor
William Lennon	3 February 1920 – 3 December 1920	Lieutenant Governor
William Lennon	17 September 1925 – 13 June 1927	Lieutenant Governor
William Lennon	8 May 1929 – 2 June 1929	Lieutenant Governor
James William Blair	7 April 1932 – 1 June 1932	Administrator
James William Blair	17 May 1937 – 21 November 1937	Administrator
Frank Cooper	24 April 1946 – 30 September 1946	Lieutenant Governor
Alan Mansfield	25 January 1957 – 18 March 1958	Administrator
Alan Mansfield	31 March 1960 – 24 May 1960	Administrator
Alan Mansfield	18 April 1963 – 18 October 1963	Administrator
William Mack	10 March 1966 – 21 March 1966	Administrator
William Mack	20 March 1969 – 30 June 1969	Administrator
Joseph Aloysius Sheehy	30 June 1969 – 18 September 1969	Administrator
Mostyn Hanger	9 March 1972 – 21 March 1972	Administrator
Mostyn Hanger	21 March 1977 – 22 April 1977	Administrator

Further reading

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Official Website of the Governor of Queensland