The new GG has been announced. Michael Jeffery, former governor for WA and 'war hero'. Seems like a pretty safe choice.

Quote:

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Australia appoints war hero as new Governor General

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) - Prime Minister John Howard on Sunday appointed a former career military officer and war hero as the new Australian representative of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, the nation's head of state.

Michael Jeffery will take over as governor general of Australia in August, replacing Peter Hollingworth who resigned last month amid two separate sex scandals that had undermined public faith in his ability to perform the duties of the post.

Jeffery, 66, served from 1993 to 2000 as the queen's representative and nominal head of state for the state of Western Australia.

"He will become the first Australian-born governor general who has had a full-time military career, he's had a very distinguished career in the Australian defense forces,'' Howard told reporters.

Jeffery was awarded the Military Cross for courageous action in Vietnam and in 1976 became the first commanding officer of Australia's special forces regiment.

He retired from the defense forces in the early 1990s as a major general and assistant chief of the general staff, when he was appointed governor of Western Australia.

"He is a person who has held significant leadership positions in the past, has a great capacity to relate to people, and I have no doubt that his appointment will be very warmly welcomed by the Australian people,'' Howard said.

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I am sure he is a better choice for G-G than Hollingworth ever was - but then Hollingworth was a very poor choice indeed.

I only have two questions - 1. What was wrong with the stand-in, Sir Guy Green (he even had the initials for it!)?
2. Where do I send my application for the job when it becomes vacant next time?

I read somewhere that Guy Green had plan to retire from his position as Governor of Tasmania soon (either this year or next). It is possible that he and wife had plans so he didn't even want to be G-G.

Hollingworth was a bit of a disaster, so (hopefully) we can only really go up from there.

Whether he can compare to Billy Deane is a whole 'nother issue... but we'd be hard pressed to find a man like that again...anywhere...

Tanzen
Member of the Billy Deane Appreciation Socety

We met the new GG at a reception at Government House when he was Governor of Western Australia. Coolcat90 was only about 7 years old. He introduced himself to her and, quite seriously, with childish innocence, she said "I've met your boss" (meaning Queen Elizabeth II). He laughed and said "Well, let me shake your hand!" He seemed a really nice man.

Can anyone tell me or link me to the circumstances around his MC award? I've googled high and low and can find no info on it.

there's not much around .. have you seen this page: www.abc.net.au

I wish I listened better this morning, Bertho, as someone on talkback told the story. (But I do remember that his company only had one loss to enemy fire during the battle)

Predictably Simon Crean is having a little winge that he wasn't consulted about it. You can just imagine him stamping his foot hving a llittle hissy fit, can't you?

Any why is everybody 'surprised' that little Johnny picked a Monachist??? Why the heck would he put anyone that WASN"T in there?

There is only one man that I can't stand more in Australian politics and that is Bob Brown, I wish he'd pull his head in every now and then.

okay. Rant over.

Have we got word back from the Queen, has she given her stamp of approval?
when do we have one of us as our Head of State ...

Why isn't Jeffery one of us?

As the G-G is the Queen's representative, Johnny's recommendation has to be approved by the Queen -- the G-G isn't the boss man, the Queen is. The G-G is an Aussie, the Queen isn't.

Oh! duh! Sorry, it was late and way past my bed time.

I liked this guy and now he`s gone all religeous on me.