25 June 2024

Your nation thanks you, Albanese tells outgoing Governor-General as official portrait is unveiled

| Sally Hopman
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Six people standing in front of a portrait

President of the Senate Sue Lines, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Mrs Linda Hurley, Governor-General David Hurley, Speaker Milton Dick and artist Jude Rae. Photo: Auspic.

The portrait of a relaxed-looking Governor-General, General David Hurley AC CVO DSC (Retd), complete with Akubra hat in a bush setting, was unveiled this week at Parliament House in Canberra.

The official portrait of the King’s representative in Australia was painted by artist Jude Rae.

Unveiling the portrait, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese congratulated the artist on her “remarkable eye and the brilliance of her hand as it painted this wonderful work into being”.

“I also wanted to acknowledge the Governor-General’s own commitment to the collaboration with this fine artist. This is the second time she has painted your portrait, and what shines through in the work is a shared understanding.

“It is a portrait that captures not just a moment, but holds before us the essence of a life.”

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Mr Albanese said the portrait also represented the culmination of a remarkable life of public service.

“As it hangs in place here in the heart of our nation’s democracy, this portrait will be another very welcome facet of your legacy and an enduring reminder of your example.

“Yours has been a life of compassion. A life of devotion. A life of quiet strength and a sense of courage that has always been as understated as it has been undeniable.

“Your nation thanks you.”

General Hurley, the 27th Governor-General of Australia, has been in the role since 2019 and ends his term in office in July.

He praised the artist at the official unveiling for accepting the commission and for her “skill, creativity and passion”.

He said the background of the portrait, a classic Australian bush setting that symbolised the strength and resilience of the Australian people, was the most important part of the work.

“Throughout my term as Governor-General, Linda and I have had the privilege of witnessing the strength of the Australian people, their compassion for each other and their gritty determination,” he said.

“This has often been against the backdrop of bushfires, floods, the pandemic and other challenging events.

“Those characteristics are inspiring and the cause for my optimism for our future – something I wanted reflected in the official portrait.”

Portrait of man in the bush

Artist Jude Rae’s official portrait of the Governor-General, David Hurley, which was unveiled at Parliament House in Canberra this week. Photo: Auspic.

It is the third time artist Jude Rae has been commissioned to paint the official portrait by the Historic Memorials Committee. Her other portraits of former Speaker of the House of Representatives Anna Burke and the first Aboriginal woman to be Federal Minister for Indigenous Australians, Linda Burney, are also on display at Parliament House.

Ms Rae said she spoke to General Hurley early on to discuss what sort of portrait to create.

“When we met to discuss the painting, His Excellency suggested that bushfire regrowth might offer an appropriate symbol of hope and an acknowledgement of the strength and resilience of the Australian people during his time in office,” Ms Rae said.

The Historic Memorials Collection was established in 1911 to capture portraits of Heads of State, Governors-General, Prime Ministers, Presidents of the Senate, Speakers of the House of Representatives, Chief Justices of the High Court of Australia and significant milestones in parliamentary history, including parliamentary “firsts” and major events.

The portrait of General Hurley is now on display in the Members Hall, Level 1, of Parliament House.

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Tarnished the position with some very questionable involvement in promoting certain very dodgy projects.

Not one of our better GG’s.

@Keyboard Warrior
“A pointless role …”
Possibly true – however, that role is enshrined in the Australian Constitution. Good luck getting that changed.

Daniel O'CONNELL3:42 pm 26 Jun 24

Gough Whitlam did not experience it as a pointless role.

@Daniel O’CONNELL
True that … and not even “The Dismissal” could rally enough support for the 1999 referendum to get up.

Keyboard Warrior11:33 pm 27 Jun 24

Agreed JustSaying, I just think it’s unnecessary to be giving such pay increases to those that doesn’t earn it, private jets, world trips without purpose, a full staff, house, chefs, and worse we replicate this waste in every State and Territory with their very own pointless Governor.
Commonly given to top Military brass just because, never mode their trail of failure to look after those that served and their mental health. The role is a sham but we are stuck with it.

@Keyboard Warrior
I do think the role is anachronistic. However, not for the rather jaundiced perspective you are pushing.

Technically speaking, the role is replicated in every State and Territory (sic – Territories have an Administrator), but the Governor role in the States has been replicated at the Federal level.

@DJA
Who is the Administrator of ACT?

@JustSaying: A very good question that opens up a hole! The Northern Territory does. The ‘Chief Minister’ is the equivalent of a state Premier, not a Governor. Maybe this is part of the problem?

@DJA
Yes, you are correct. ACT is unique among Australia’s states and territories as it has no representative of the Crown to give assent to legislation – i.e. a governor or administrator.

Interestingly, the Federal government, rightly or wrongly, decided in 1988 that the ACT would not have an Administrator – ten years after the Northern Territory gained self-government with an Adminstrator (appointed by the GG). I don’t know the reason.

It is worth noting that while ACT legislation does not “receive Royal assent”, the Federal parliament has the right of “veto” over any legislation and the GG has the power to dissolve the ACT Legislative Assembly. So, given this and the fact that the state governors and NT administrator have rarely (arguably the number of times can be counted on one hand) failed to give assent to legislation, I’m not sure what “problem” would be solved by having an ACT Administrator.

Keyboard Warrior10:04 pm 25 Jun 24

A pointless role, my god we waste so much money on these ribbon cutters.

On the bright side his wife won’t be popping up at random events each year expecting us all to break into song… easily the most awkward moment I’ve been exposed to in my 30 years of public service, we were at a reasonably serious meeting and she had us all sing you are my bloody sunshine! The only part that made this bearable was the look of horror and discomfort on the Sec and DepSecs faces.

Capital Retro3:49 pm 26 Jun 24

The same sunshine that powers the part-time solar panels?

David Hurley’s favourite song, ‘what about me, where’s my $217k?’

@Futureproof
… and true to form, you confirm you are informationally challenged, Fp.

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