Appointing the next Governor-General

The Prime Minister says he won’t appoint a politician – or former politician – as the next Governor-General. As the present G-G plans to leave office in August this year, this will be a big test for the new PM because replacing the Head of State’s representative will be an early indicator of his ability to deal with contentious symbolic issues and desire to promote government renewal. That announcement immediately triggered media speculation about possible names. Phillip Adams went for women: Germaine Greer (GG for GG) or Lowitja O’Donoghue. WfaAR strongly supports a woman being appointed as the next Governor-General and a more public selection process than seen at any time since Federation. Both Canada and New Zealand have had women Governors-General, so why can’t we? There’s no shortage of good women candidates. [“If Bomber won’t do, let’s have Germaine.” Phillip Adams in The Australian, 22 January 2008]