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Quentin Bryce
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===Controversy=== [[Greg Sheridan]], in the national newspaper ''[[The Australian]]'', suggested that the governor-general risked "politicising and misusing the office".<ref name=sheridan>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/a-price-too-high-to-pay/news-story/b45304f9998add5a58c4c5dc438b016f|title=A price too high to pay |work=[[The Australian]]|date=9 March 2009|access-date=7 November 2017|author=Sheridan, Greg}}</ref> Sheridan was commenting on Bryce's planned trip to Africa on behalf of the prime minister to lobby for a seat for Australia in the [[United Nations Security Council]].<ref name=sheridan/> He further stated that Bryce's "feigned interest in Africa will be seen cynically by Africans".<ref name=sheridan/> Sheridan added that governors-general should travel overseas "only rarely and for ceremonial purposes",<ref name=sheridan/> and "they have no right to engage in foreign policy debate, at home or abroad".<ref name=sheridan/> Similarly to her time as governor in Queensland, Government House in Canberra witnessed significant staff turnover, with claims that she was very difficult to work for.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/6392493/Staff-desert-Australias-Governor-General-Quentin-Bryce.html|title=Staff desert Australia's Governor-General Quentin Bryce|website=The Telegraph|date=21 October 2009 |access-date=15 May 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160611163952/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/6392493/Staff-desert-Australias-Governor-General-Quentin-Bryce.html|archive-date=11 June 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/national/governor-general-quentin-bryce-loses-one-third-of-her-staff/story-e6freooo-1225788467996|title=Governor-General Quentin Bryce loses one-third of her staff|last=Chalmers|first=Emma|date=19 October 2009|access-date=15 May 2016}}</ref> In November 2013, Bryce delivered the annual ABC [[Boyer Lectures|Boyer Lecture]]. Bryce stated she would like to see an Australia where "people are free to love and marry whom they choose [...] And where perhaps, my friends, one day, one young girl or boy may even grow up to be our nation's first head of state".<ref>{{cite news|title=Governor-General Quentin Bryce backs gay marriage, Australia becoming a republic in Boyer Lecture|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-22/governor-general-quentin-bryce-backs-gay-marriage-republicanism/5112020|access-date=22 November 2013|newspaper=ABC News|date=22 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122110646/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-22/governor-general-quentin-bryce-backs-gay-marriage-republicanism/5112020|archive-date=22 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Her comments drew severe criticism, not merely for their support of a republic while still serving as the Queen's representative, but because the role is meant to be strictly non-partisan. Senator [[Dean Smith (Australian politician)|Dean Smith]] called them "a slap in the face to many, many Australians, and a significant breach of trust".<ref name="abc.net.au">{{Cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-23/republicans-welcome-governor-general-support-for-republic/5112658|title=G-G's support for republic, same-sex marriage a 'slap in the face'|website=ABC News|date=22 November 2013 |language=en-AU|access-date=20 April 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107194359/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-23/republicans-welcome-governor-general-support-for-republic/5112658|archive-date=7 January 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> [[Amanda Vanstone]] accused her of possible grandstanding, and wrote: "In publicly declaring these views, she has brought that high office into a political realm in which it does not belong ... Someone might explain to her that the job is not about her ... it's about us."<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-lookatme-gg-20131124-2y3so.html|title=The 'look-at-me' G-G|last=Vanstone|first=Amanda|date=25 November 2013|newspaper=The Age|access-date=20 April 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161114122823/http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-lookatme-gg-20131124-2y3so.html|archive-date=14 November 2016|df=dmy-all}}</ref> Then-Prime Minister [[Tony Abbott]] supported Bryce's right to comment, saying "It's more than appropriate for the Governor-General, approaching the end of her term, to express a personal view on a number of subjects, and that's what she was doing."<ref name="ABC20131122">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-23/republicans-welcome-governor-general-support-for-republic/5112658|title=Monarchists decry Governor-General Quentin Bryce's support for a republic; Coalition says issue 'not a priority'|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=23 November 2013|access-date=25 November 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131125101121/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-23/republicans-welcome-governor-general-support-for-republic/5112658|archive-date=25 November 2013|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
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