Such similarities could well have been expected, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison declaring himself a “traditionalist” when it comes to these things. And it is Morrison — who looks unlikely to last a year in the top job — that currently gets to make the pick.
Morrison announced over the weekend that Hurley, the current Governor of NSW and a former senior Army officer, will replace Sir Peter Cosgrove — also a retired senior Australian Army officer — whose five year term is due to expire in 2019.
Hurley will be the 27th individual in the role, and the 26th male. Dame Quentin Bryce remains the outlier. The only woman to serve in the role since 1901.
Bryce replaced Major-General Michael Jeffrey, another retired senior Australian Army officer.
While there is widespread respect for Hurley and his credentials, there is one obvious thing that comes through in this appointment: it’s a missed opportunity not only for Australia in getting a more diverse candidate for the role, especially when so many of our other top leadership positions are dominated by white men, but also for Morrison in making a more representative selection.
As Jenna Price said in the Sydney Morning Herald today: Morrison had the option for a bold choice.
Instead he opted for the safe, ‘traditional’ choice, because he is a traditionalist, after all.
So what do people make of the selection?
There are the usual questions regarding why, in over 100 years, we’re still finding it so difficult to find a woman for such a role.
Wow. So in this incredible country of ours apparently we can’t find a woman to be the next governor-general. #auspol
— Bevan Shields (@BevanShields) December 15, 2018
Only one woman has ever held this job in more than 100 years but I guess we shouldn’t rush things. https://t.co/R4XQlXetWO
— Michelle Michael (@Michelle2795C) December 16, 2018
And questions regarding whether we need back-to-back military men.
David Hurley will be a perfectly competent replacement for Peter Cosgrove. But did we really need back to back military blokes appointed to the GG role? Surely it couldn’t have been that hard to think a little more outside the square… #auspol
— Peter van Onselen (@vanOnselenP) December 15, 2018
And yet more comparisons to New Zealand, which is now on to its third female governor general, along with its third female prime minister.
And – NZ current governor general is their 3rd woman, Canada is up to their 4th, plus they have had several people of colour. But here, downunder, the only female GG we have ever had was the great Quentin Bryce. And as for POC… 🤦🏻♀️ #auspol #behind
— ariadne vromen (@ariadne_syd) December 15, 2018
And questions regarding why Marie Bashir wasn’t considered.
What a great bloke David Hurley is, a successful governor of NSW for 4 yrs, well-liked, BUT Marie Bashir, before him, was more than well-liked.
A medical Dr, she advocated for health, campaigned for equality & her work in the community was garlanded well before she was governor. https://t.co/YO573mIwwr— Just Judith’n’ALF (@JrehnJ) December 16, 2018
But GG Designate General David Hurley won’t take on the position alone. ‘Mrs Hurley’, his wife of 40 years, will be right there next to him.
[1/2] Our Governor General holds the highest office in our land. GG Designate General David Hurley is a seasoned and experienced leader who, together with Mrs Hurley – his wife of more than 40 years, know how to do the job with strength, dignity, grace, compassion and humility… pic.twitter.com/K6XliDDquZ
— Scott Morrison (@ScottMorrisonMP) December 16, 2018