The Prime Minister says that the next Governor-General should not be a serving or former politician. So who should it be?

I have two nominations:

Justice Michael Kirby
http://www.hcourt.gov.au/kirbyj.htm

Lowitja O'Donoghue
http://www.australianbiography.gov.au/odonoghue/index.html

I second your motion of Justice Michael Kirby and Lowitja O'Donoghue.
Both excellent choices. And I would like to add one of my own:

Geoffrey Ronald Robertson QC.
Australian human rights lawyer, academic, author and broadcaster...
Born Sept. 30th 1946 in Sydney, NSW. He holds dual Australian and British Citizenship. Rhodes Scholar. It would be very fitting to have him as our last Governor-General.

Sir Les Paterson gets my vote.

He represents all that Australians purport to be.

Sophisticated, learned and cultured.

Check out Sir Les here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvhfXIa1mkg

I've got two more suggestions.

1) Professor Michael James "Mick" Dodson AM
He was Australia's first Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander Social Justice Commissioner with the Human
Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1993 - 1998).
He's a Renaissance man, one of a group of sophisticated
Aboriginal activists who understand more about white
society than it understands itself.

2) Professor Hugh R. Taylor AC
Managing Director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia.
He has been the Professor of Ophthalmology and Head of the
Department at the University of Melbourne since 1990.
Working in research for the cure of blindness. Has written
many books and won many awards.

Bindi Irwin.

sorry, you twits haven't been paying attention, have you?

the pm "nominates" the gg. the gg is supposed to be master of the nation (read the constitution, why don't you) but since kerr's big day out (he did read it), the gg has had a bomb taped to his spine, preventing any further 'accidents'.

seriously, people, don't you realize your role in the oz polity is to turn grass into fleece and mutton? these childish day-dreams of political relevance just stir up feelings unsuited to your station.

straighten yourselves out by repeating: "four legs good, two legs bad!" whenever inappropriate thoughts intrude.

Rainier, well chosen my man, Sir Les in my view could be the front man, but for the real brains in the background, I suggest Dame Edna, already both honoured by the Queen

There is only one way to ensure that the next Governor General is the last, and that is to make such a disastrous botch of the appointment that it brings the entire role into disrepute.

This was clearly the objective with our "very model of a modern Major General", but unfortunately he has been kept out of the limelight so much that nobody actually has anything to say about him.

The appointment of Hollingworth was a brave attempt to achieve instant notoriety, but had an additional subtle agenda. Howard, being aware that the whole republican thing was still a niggle, chose to foist on us someone who possessed the absolute maximum of undesirable characteristics.

A sort of "double dare-ya" slap in the face of the Australian people.

What's the point of wittering on about a republic, he seemed to say. Little Johnny is in charge, and Hollingworth was merely proof that the GG position had finally become utterly without meaning or relevance.

All this, of course, was also a response to the incumbency of one William Deane. What Prime Minister could countenance a Governor General who was compassionate, outspoken and impervious to insult, innuendo and blackmail?

He was the last of the real Governors General, I suspect. The role has since been substantially debased. So Bindi Irwin sounds good.

As an alternative, how about Andrew Johns, perhaps? Or Andrew Symonds? Both upholding the great Australian tradition of win-at-all-costs, while simultaneously maintaining the twin roles of egregious cheat and sporting hero.

What about Pauline Hanson? Female, feisty, xenophobic and muddle-headed? That would bring on a republic faster than you could say knife. And I'd give a fortune to see Betty's face at the investiture.

Peter Jensen would be an ideal choice too, I think. Open, honest, forthright, clear-thinking, compassionate, forgiving, charitable, considerate... [shurely not? - ed]

Better stop there, the medication's beginning to kick in.

judging by all these recommendations I get the impression that integrity is not a requirement for GG.

In our political system, surely the position itself is far more important than the person who occupies it.

Except for Whitlam’s experience, the PM actually runs the administrative part of the nation and makes all the decisions, so the GG is nothing more than the impotent symbolic occupant of a position within a working system.

For example, as wonderfully decent and inspirational as Sir William Deane was, he made absolutely no difference to our society except to show us what it could/should be, but had no way to implement any changes.

We don’t need to change the system itself but we can control who represents it.
Given the actual tangible physical responsibilities of the occupant, does it really have to be a person at all?

Therefore, why not appoint an inanimate object, like a housebrick for instance, as GG?

The occasional physical responsibility (ribbon cutting, document signing, hand-shaking, medal pinning etc) of the role could be delegated to any nearby existing Public Servant but all the other symbolic parts of the role would remain intact.

There would be no chance of public embarrassment or scandal by the GG and no problem with security, not to mention the significant savings to the taxpayer for all the associated costs in lavish accommodation and maintaining a supporting entourage.

There would be no need to periodically replace the GG so no chance of the role becoming politicised or becoming a threat to the status quo.

If several interchangeable housebricks were used, the GG could make simultaneous public appearances for the cost of postage alone.

In the case of any unforseen constitutional crisis, QE2 can take always direct control anytime she deems it necessary.

Ridiculous as it seems, it’s probably not far from reality.

Yet we may have seen the next GGs name in these threads what a fantastic way to say sorry.

Rache

Well according the H. M.The Queen the G General is charged with many duties.

Below is a letter from H. M. explaining the G Generals role.

Please make sure you scroll past the letter to view the bottom of the page.
http://www.livexports.com/queen.html

This one is the Governer Generals reply.>

http://www.livexports.com/letter3.html

So now we all understand buck pasing really does start right at the top and work its way down. I hope the next GG takes H.M.the Queens letter more seriously. Perhaps they could discuss it over high tea.

No wonder why they call it Buckingham Palace

P.A.L.E & I.F,

Nice one - thanks.

I've reconsidered my stance and would like to put myself forward for the position when it becomes available.

Doesn't look too hard and has plenty of perks.

Rache
Your on. We will recomend you to H M. The Queen.

Just remember your friends the animals when you are in high places please young lady.

All the best Rache
Pale
People Against Live exports.

And Intensive Farming
Rache below something from USA about Intensive Farming.

We invite you to view the two-minute video here:
http://tinyurl.com/2qb4ow. Please feel welcome to contact me with any
questions.

And if you live in California (or have friends or family there), check
out the following video about ways to volunteer to help:
http://humanecalifornia.org/

PALE,
I'm actually no young lady - quite the opposite. "Rache" is German for "revenge" but thanks anyway.

The images were horrific as expected. I have a friend in Topanga California and she's already aware of all this (she's been a vegetarian for years).

Surely, it can't go on like this. Even the Nazis introduced the gas ovens because they believed the cruelty in their alternative killing methods was making them into brutes. This is being done for money.
As Bob Dylan said - "money doesn't talk - it swears".

See you elsewhere and good luck!

Rache

What a breath of fresh air you are. A Lady wish a sense of humour and a brain. Love the nick name. I must tell Shultz our Germann born lady Antje.

Thats my nick name for her.

I am told H.M. The Queen is rather open to the more muture type of ladies so I will be certain to pass that information on.

I hope we do see you around the forums.

We look forward to it

Really this is of little interest.



When Australian People can nominate and be chosen to be G-G by filling in a ballot paper then it will be interesting.

Republicans just posting in the wind until they support giving process of choice to the Australian people.

.

I prefer the next and last Governor General to be an Aborigines.
A symbolic move that we leave back and for ever the White Australia.
A symbolic move for Aborigines and non Anglo Saxon Australians that better days are coming.
A symbolic move that this country belong to all Australians, it is yours and ours, without race discrimination, race humiliation, without first and second class citizens or employees.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Dear Antonios,

Bravo!

Well said.

I couldn't agree more both with your suggestion and the sentiments expressed!

Blackfella, whitefella
It doesn't matter, what your colour
As long as you're a true fella
As long as you're a real fella
We need more brothers if we're to make it
We need more sisters, if we're to save it
Are you the one who's gonna stand up
and be counted?
Warumpi Band

On a more serious note, I think Air Marshall Angus Huston would be the obvious choice, and of course since this thread began he has been honoured by the AO. Having been a long serving RAAF member, I've known of AM Huston's rise over the years, and his thoroughly impeccable manner in dealing with all personnel. His surprising humility in this aspect, I think makes him a formidable contender for the next GG, and of course, everyone knows that humility with great wisdom, breeds great leadership, and Angus Huston has those qualities.

Don't we have another country 'n' western singer hidden away somewhere?

That'd really show the world we mean business.