Our next G-G will look remarkably similar to most of those before him

Our next GG will look remarkably similar to most of those before him

David Hurley
No disrespect to retired General David Hurley and his four decades of service, but there is something remarkably familiar about his selection as the next Governor General of Australia.

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.

And questions regarding whether we need back-to-back military men.

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 questions regarding why Marie Bashir wasn’t considered.

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.

 

 

 

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