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OFFICE OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETARY 

TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL 

Annual Report 

2010–2011

© Commonwealth of Australia 2011 

ISSN 1440-7825 

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permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part 

may be reproduced by any process without 

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Government, available from the Attorney-General’s 

Department. Requests and enquiries concerning 

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the Commonwealth Copyright Administration, 

Copyright Law Branch, Attorney-General’s 

Department, National Circuit, Barton, ACT 2600, 

or posted at http://www.ag.gov.au/cca. 

To obtain information about the content 

of this report, please contact: 

Ms Karen Baker 

Director Corporate Services 

Office of the Official Secretary to the 

Governor‐General 

Government House 

Canberra ACT 2600 

Telephone: (02) 6283 3510 

Facsimile: (02) 6281 3760 

Email: karen.baker@gg.gov.au 

Information about the activities of the Governor- 

General and the operations of the Office of the 

Official Secretary to the Governor-General is 

available at the following internet addresses: 

Internet home page: www.gg.gov.au 

Internet annual report: 

www.gg.gov.au/reports/ar2010-11/index.htm 

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Government House, Canberra ACT 2600

OFFICE OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETARY 

TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL 

12 October 2011 

The Hon Julia Gillard MP 

Prime Minister 

Parliament House 

CANBERRA ACT 2600 

Dear Prime Minister 

I present the annual report of the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor‐General for the 

financial year ending 30 June 2011, in accordance with subsection 19(1) of the Governor‐General Act 1974. 

Subsection 19(2) of the Act requires you to cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of the 

Parliament within fifteen sitting days after the day on which you receive the report. 

I certify that I am satisfied that the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General has prepared 

fraud risk assessments and a fraud control plan, and has in place appropriate fraud prevention, detection, 

investigation, reporting and data collection procedures and processes that meet its specific needs and that 

comply with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines. 

Yours sincerely 

Stephen Brady 

Official Secretary to the Governor‐General 

Annual Report 2010–2011 

i

Contents 

Chapter 1: Overview 1 

Official Secretary’s review 2 

Office overview 3 

Chapter 2: Report on performance 7 

Outcome performance 8 

Financial performance 12 

Program 1—Support for the Governor-General and Official Activities 13 

Program Component 1—Support of the Governor-General 15 

Program Component 2—Administration of the Australian Honours and Awards System 36 

Chapter 3: Management and accountability 43 

Corporate governance 44 

Management of human resources 47 

Management of assets and financial processes 52 

Changes to disability reporting in annual reports 53 

Freedom of Information 54 

Ecologically sustainable development and environmental protection 55 

Appendices57 

Appendix A: The Council for the Order of Australia and the Australian Bravery Decorations Council 59 

Appendix B: Order of Australia Awards 60 

Appendix C: Australian Bravery Decorations 64 

Appendix D: Defence, Meritorious and Long Service Awards 66 

Appendix E: Staffing overview 67 

Appendix F: Occupational health and safety key statistics 69 

Appendix G: Consultancy contracts 70 

Appendix H: Agency resource statement 71 

Appendix I: List of requirements 74 

Financial statements 79 

Indexes139 

Glossary, abbreviations and acronyms 140 

Alphabetical index 142 

ii 

OFFICE OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Figures 

Figure 1 Organisational structure at 30 June 2011 4 

Figure 2 Strategic planning framework 45 

Figure 3 Mechanism of incidents reporting 69 

Tables 

Table 1 Performance indicators for Program 1 14 

Table 2 Performance trend information 14 

Table 3 Financial performance for Program 1 15 

Table 4 Financial performance for Component 1 15 

Table 5 Activities and correspondence in 2010–11 18 

Table 6 Financial performance for Component 2 36 

Table B1 The Order of Australia Awards (General Division) Australia Day 2011 

and The Queen’s Birthday 2011 60 

Table B2 The Order of Australia Awards (General Division), The Queen’s Birthday 1975 

to The Queen’s Birthday 2011 62 

Table C1 Australian Bravery Decorations 2010–11 64 

Table C2 Bravery Decorations conferred from 1975 to 30 June 2011 65 

Table D1 Defence, Meritorious and Long Service Awards approved during 

2010–11 and total awards approved 66 

Table E1 Salary range by classification at 30 June 2011 67 

Table E2 Staffing profile at 30 June 2011 67 

Table E3 Equal employment opportunity profile at 30 June 2011 68 

Table E4 Staffing profile at 30 June 2010 68 

Table F1 OHS inspections 69 

Table F2 OHS training and initiatives 69 

Table F3 Notifiable incidents 69 

Table G1 Consultancy services of $10,000 or more let during 2010–11 70 

Table H1 Agency resource statement 2010–11 71 

Table H2 Expenses and resources for Outcome 1 73 


iii

Ch a pte r O n 

Overview

Ch a pte r O n e 

Official Secretary’s review 

Year in review 

In line with the new five-year Strategic Business 

Plan, the Office of the Official Secretary to the 

Governor-General provided sustained professional 

support to the Governor-General throughout a busy 

year of activity in 2010–11. At the same time, the 

Office continued to make ongoing improvements 

to its performance and efficiency, and successfully 

managed a range of corporate challenges. 

The year was marked by a Federal election, a series 

of natural disasters affecting many communities 

in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and 

Western Australia, and several nationally significant 

occasions at which the Governor-General was a 

leading participant. Building on the achievements of 

her first 22 months in office, Ms Bryce undertook a 

dynamic program of meetings, visits and ceremonial 

duties to further broaden her engagement with 

the Australian public in 2010–11. Record levels of 

correspondence, visitors, and activity on the Office’s 

website demonstrate that public interest in the 

Governor-General’s program and role continues 

to be very strong. 

Despite resource constraints, the Office delivered 

comprehensive and high quality support and 

services including logistics, liaison and briefing 

to the Governor-General as she discharged her 

constitutional, Commander-in-Chief, ceremonial 

and community duties. The staffing structure of 

the Office remained largely unchanged, though 

staff reductions through natural attrition enabled 

the streamlining of some functions. Greater use was 

made of task forces for special events and projects. 

An innovative and pragmatic approach to meeting 

operational challenges, with due regard to risk 

management, was a hallmark of the Office’s work. 

The Office’s achievements included the successful 

and timely negotiation of a new Enterprise 

Agreement 2011–2014. The Office dealt effectively 

with extensive and costly damage caused to the 

grounds of Government House by a severe storm 

in December 2010. Property works at Government 

House and Admiralty House were undertaken in 

accordance with priority needs. Judicious savings 

were realised across all areas of the Office’s 

operations. The Office maintained a helpful and 

responsive approach to requests for information 

about its operations, against the backdrop of a 

70 per cent increase in correspondence received. 

The Australian Honours and Awards Branch 

researched and prepared a high volume of 

nominations for consideration by the Council for 

the Order of Australia and the Australian Bravery 

Decorations Council. Community interest in the 

Australian honours system remained strong. A 

highlight during the year was the award of Australia’s 

highest honour—the Victoria Cross for Australia— 

to Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG. 

Outlook for 2011–12 

The Office is committed to maintaining the 

momentum established in the first three years of 

the Governor-General’s term. Mindful of budgetary 

pressures, it will continue to work smartly, and 

deliver maximum value for money. Branches, work 

teams and individual staff will review their work 

plans to ensure they remain outcome-oriented 

and all areas of the Office will be asked to identify 

and implement additional efficiency measures. 

Several urgent and essential property projects 

will be advanced, underpinned by the Office’s 

risk management framework. Approaches to 

official representation will continue to maximise 

community engagement. At the same time, the 

Office will continue to implement and refine its 

policies and practices in regard to management and 

administration, to ensure that its operations remain 

efficient, responsive and accountable. Within the 

resources provided by Government, the Office plans 

to implement two new medals: the National Police 

Service Medal and National Emergency Medal. 

2 OFFICE OF THE OFFICIAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Overview 

Office overview 

The office of Governor-General was established by 

the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia 

in 1901. The Governor-General represents 

The Queen in Australia: exercising the executive 

power of the Commonwealth; upholding and 

executing its laws and Constitution; and performing 

a broad range of constitutional, statutory, ceremonial 

and community responsibilities. The Governor- 

General is also Commander-in-Chief of the 

Australian Defence Force. The Governor-General 

acts on the advice of the elected Government in all 

relevant matters. 

The Office of the Official Secretary to the 

Governor-General, which was established in 1984 by 

amendment to the Governor-General Act 1974, (the 

Act) supports the Governor-General in the fulfilment 

of these responsibilities, according to section 13 of 

the Act, which is administered by the Prime Minister. 

Prior to 1984, the Governor-General’s office was 

administered by the Department of the Prime 

Minister and Cabinet. 

The Office comprises three branches and a 

communications and media unit which report 

to the Official Secretary in his capacity as Chief 

Executive Officer. Figure 1 shows the structure 

of the Office at 30 June 2011. 

The Executive and Protocol Branch provides 

direct support to the Governor-General through 

the planning, organisation and management of 

Their Excellencies’ forward program of national 

and international engagements; advises on policy 

and contextual matters and current issues; drafts 

speeches, messages and briefings; and responds to 

a large volume of communications from the public. 

The Branch also manages household operations, 

including representational activities, at Government 

House and Admiralty House. 

The Australian Honours and Awards Branch 

receives and researches nominations for 

honours and awards for Australians who provide 

distinguished service to the community and the 

nation. The Branch supports the two advisory 

councils that make recommendations to the 

Governor-General on honours matters. It also 

undertakes reception, records management and 

anniversary correspondence roles. 

The Corporate Services Branch provides corporate 

services, governance advice and financial, human 

resource, and information technology support for 

the Office. The Branch also manages the official 

residences, grounds and assets and coordinates 

physical security. 

This report is structured according to the Office’s 

outcome and program, in line with the accrual 

budgeting and reporting requirements for Australian 

Government agencies, and provides information 

required under Government guidelines for the 

preparation of annual reports. The Office’s outcome 

and outputs are as follows: 

Outcome 

Program 1 

Component 1 

Component 2 

The performance of the Governor-General’s role is facilitated through the 

organisation and management of official duties, management and maintenance of the 

official household and property and administration of the Australian Honours and 

Awards system 

Support for the Governor-General and Official Activities 

Support of the Governor-General 

Administration of the Australian Honours and Awards System 

This Outcome, Program and Program Components are consistent with that reported in the Office’s 

2010–11 Portfolio Budget Statements. The cost of the Corporate Services Branch is allocated across 

both program components in line with the proportional costs of supporting those components. 


3

Ch a pte r O n e 

Figure 1: Organisational Structure at 30 june 2011 

Official Secretary to 

the Governor‐General 

Stephen Brady 

Deputy Official Secretary to 

the Governor‐General 

Mark Fraser 

Communications 

& Media 

Senior Communications 

& Media Adviser 

Niree Creed 

Communications & 

Media Assistant 

Senior Executive Assistant 

to the Governor-General 

Caroline Cooper 

Executive Assistant 

to the OS/DOS 

Bronwyn Morris 

Director 

Executive and Protocol 

Pamela O’Grady 

Program Unit 

Operations Manager 

Paul Singer 

Program Assistant 

Aides de Camp 

Events Manager 

Nathan McKenzie 

Events Adviser 

Invitation Officers 

Household 

Manager 

Mark McConnell 

Assistant Manager 

Household Attendants 

Senior Chef 

2nd Chef 

Speechwriter 

Vacant 

Director 

Honours and Awards 

Sharon Prendergast 

Order Of Australia 

Assistant Director 

Elizabeth Mitchell 

Senior Case Officers 

Case Officers 

Trainee Case Officers 

Awards, Decorations 

& Administration 

Assistant Director 

Debbie Bowden 

Senior Administration Officer 

Administration Officers 

Case Officer 

Public Information Officer 

Medals & Awards Officer 

Warrants Officer 

Admin Assistant - Medals 

Reception/Registry Officers 

Director 

Corporate Services 

Karen Baker 

Finance 

Chief Finance Officer 

Greg Dennis 

Deputy CFO 

Snr Finance Officer 

Purchasing Officer 

Finance Assistant 

Human Resources 

Manager 

Kerry Cox 

HR Adviser 

HR Officer 

IT 

Manager 

Clement Tyhuis 

IT Systems Administrator 

IT Support Officer 

Property & Services 

Manager 

Peyton Butler 

Caretaker 

Maintenance Officers 

Transport/Property 

Officers 

Head Gardener 

Gardening Overseers 

Gardeners 

Admiralty House 

Property Coordinator 

Property Assistant 

Property Officers 

Projects Manager 

Rob Meller 

Corporate Coordinator 

Vacant 


Overview 

The Governor-General is presented a basket of wattle by Eryn Burge from St Francis of Assisi Primary School to mark the 

centenary of Wattle Day on 25 August 2010. 


5

Chapter Two 

REPORT ON PERFORMANCE

Chapter Two 

Outcome performance 

The Office of the Official Secretary to the 

Governor-General reports on performance 

in relation to a single outcome, namely: 

The performance of the Governor-General’s role is 

facilitated through the organisation and management 

of official duties, management and maintenance of the 

official household and property and administration of 

the Australian Honours and Awards system. 

Comments are continually sought from the 

Governor-General on the quality of her program 

and the support and services provided in its 

execution. Feedback is also received from a range 

of external stakeholders involved with the Office’s 

work. This feedback is critical to ensuring that the 

work of the Office is targeted, responsive and of 

a consistently high standard. 

The program for 2010–11 was substantial and 

comprehensive. It incorporated activities in many 

Australian cities as well as regional, rural and remote 

areas, including those affected by natural disasters 

in the summer of 2011. At the request of the 

Government, the Governor-General also undertook 

a range of representational travel abroad. 

The severity of floods and other disasters in early 

2011 and the wide geographical distribution of 

these events prompted a series of visits by the 

Governor-General and Mr Bryce to affected areas 

to offer their support and encouragement. Between 

6 January and 24 May, the Governor-General and 

Mr Bryce spent ten days in towns suffering the 

aftermath of natural disasters, including Emerald, 

Alpha, Jericho, Condamine, Chinchilla, Ipswich, 

Grantham, Boggabilla, Grafton, Rochester, Kerang, 

Horsham, Charlton, Carnarvon, Rockhampton, 

Withcott, Gatton, Dalby, Murphy’s Creek, 

and Benjeroop. 

The Governor-General’s attendance at services 

in Fromelles, Sandakan, Hellfire Pass and Long Tan, 

commemorating the loss of Australian soldiers on 

the Western Front and in Borneo, Thailand and 

Vietnam, emphasised the nation’s respect for the 

sacrifice of defence personnel, past and present, 

in the protection of national interests and values. 

The presence of Australian veterans and their 

relatives and friends at these events underlined the 

Governor-General’s positive engagement with the 

defence and veterans community. 

Visits to Vanuatu, Kuwait, New Zealand, Vietnam, Italy 

and Spain, each having a different focus, affirmed 

Australia’s regional and international standing and 

contributed to the enhancement of bilateral relations. 

The Office maintained and developed extensive 

community networks through which the 

Governor-General continued to promote awareness 

of, and support for, particular causes and issues. 

The spirit of volunteerism, children’s welfare, 

mental health, the value of shared experience 

and mentoring, and respect for elders were 

recurrent themes. 

Such engagements and exchanges, and a responsiveness 

to unfolding events, continued to guide and shape the 

Governor-General’s program and enabled the Office 

to enhance the Governor-General’s involvement with 

the Australian community. 

In terms of the administration of the Australian 

honours and awards system, the Office exceeded 

established performance indicators. 


Report on performance 

Overview 

The Governor-General removes an eye patch from a Fred Hollows Preventable Blindness Program patient at Hue Eye Hospital, Vietnam 

on 11 May 2011. 

Annual Report 2010–2011 9

Chapter Two 

D e sp atch 

Flood Visits 

Summer 2011 

The Governor-General meets local children from the town of Boggabilla, 

New South Wales, during her visit to flood affected areas on 20 January 2011. 


The Governor-General visits a 

cattle feed lot outside Condamine, 

Queensland, on 7 January 2011, 

affected by the Queensland floods. 

The Governor-General observes flood damage to 

a railway that passes through the town of Alpha, 

Queensland on 6 January 2011. 

In January 2011, communities across the nation 

faced unprecedented damage and destruction 

from floods. Grief, pain and loss were 

experienced in towns and cities in Queensland, 

Victoria, New South Wales and Western Australia, as 

essential services were cut off by rising flood waters 

and the death toll mounted. 

But the spirit of affected communities remained 

strong as volunteers, emergency services personnel, 

and the Australian Defence Force responded in the 

best way possible to the disasters. Broken levees 

were repaired, elements of infrastructure restored, 

and food and clothing distributed at relief and 

evacuation centres set up in schools, showgrounds 

and public buildings. 

The Governor-General and Mr Bryce travelled 

to numerous centres in the disaster areas. They 

spent quiet time with families, assuring them that 

Australians were with them during their hardship, 

and they rallied groups of locals, volunteers and 

emergency personnel over a well-earned cuppa 

or meal amid the hard slog of relief work. 

On 6 January, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce 

flew to central-west Queensland and visited Alpha, 

Jericho and Emerald. Standing beside a warped 

railway track, Ms Bryce saw first-hand the power 

of the water that had engulfed the area. She 

witnessed further evidence of the magnitude of 

the floods at a cattle feed lot outside Condamine, 

the rail bridge at Grantham, and in Kerang where 

a frantic operation to sandbag perimeter roads 

was under way as water threatened to inundate 

the town. Other places visited included Boggabilla, 

Toomelah and Grafton in New South Wales, 

Rochester, Horsham and Charlton in Victoria, and 

Carnarvon in Western Australia. 

The Governor-General spent Australia Day in 

Rockhampton and the Lockyer Valley where she 

called in at the Withcott Hotel and met Grantham 

residents before attending a memorial service in 

Gatton. At the service, Ms Bryce said it was a time 

of upheaval, which demanded of Valley residents 

‘a super human effort … physically, mentally and 

emotionally’ to cope with the disaster. 


11

Chapter Two 

Financial performance 

Operating result 

The Office achieved a break-even operating result, 

adjusted for depreciation and amortisation expense, 

in the 2010-11 financial year. 

There were no changes to accounting policy in the 

treatment of works conducted under the Vice-Regal 

Heritage Property Master Plan (the Master Plan), 

approved in the 2006 Budget. Under this plan, funding 

is provided by Government via a departmental nonoperating 

equity injection for ongoing upkeep of the 

two Vice-Regal residences. 

Priority under the Master Plan continues to be 

given to works which make best use of existing 

infrastructure, and to the repair of areas that 

have deteriorated. Special attention was given to 

cases where serious structural or safety issues had 

been identified. 

The Office’s 2010–11 audited financial statements 

are provided in this report. The Office received 

an unqualified audit report from the Australian 

National Audit Office (ANAO) for 2010–11. 

Report against the 2010–11 

Portfolio Budget Statements 

An Agency Resource Statement and a table 

showing Resources for Outcomes are included at 

Appendix H of this report. During 2010–11 the 

Office budgeted to receive total appropriations 

of $20,881,000. Of this total $3,237,000 was 

provided for capital works activities under the 

Vice-Regal Heritage Property Master Plan as well 

as a carry-over from previous years of $1,930,000 

(see the Capital works budget section below). The 

remaining $15,714,000, represents the planned 

cost for Outcome 1 (the Office’s sole outcome) 

and comprises $11,589,000 for departmental, prior 

year carry-over of $4,386,000 and $1,669,000 

for administered. In addition, the Office estimated 

it would collect other departmental revenues of 

$32,000 and receive $506,000 in resources free 

of charge. 

The total resources for Outcome 1, including 

departmental expense appropriations, revenue 

from other sources and administered expense 

appropriations, are set out in Appendix H. 

The variations between the budget appropriations 

and the operating results for the year are 

explained below. 

The Governor-General and Mr Michael Bryce meet SES volunteers who assisted the flood affected community of Grafton, 

New South Wales, on 20 January 2011. 



Overview 

Budget variations 

Outcome 1 

The Office was appropriated $13,729 000 in 

departmental and administered in 2010–11 to 

achieve its objectives under Outcome 1. The actual 

price of departmental and administered outputs 

under Outcome 1 for the year was $13,443,000 as a 

result of lower than anticipated depreciation charges. 

Capital works budget 

The Office received an equity injection of 

$3,237,000 in the 2010–11 Budget to fund the 

capital works projects in the sixth year of the Vice- 

Regal Heritage Property Master Plan. Expenditure in 

2010–11 on capital works was $1,060,000 of which 

$774,000 remains in the Office’s departmental 

balance sheet as works-in-progress. 

An amount of $679,010, reflecting the cost of works 

which were completed and put to use in 2010–11, 

was transferred to administered equity. 

The Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief, paying her 

respects to fallen Australian soldiers at a memorial service at 

Al Minhad Air Base, United Arab Emirates on 10 June 2011. 

Significant changes in 2011–12 

In the 2011–12 Budget, the Office was appropriated 

$1,070,000 in departmental equity injection funding 

for the seventh year of the Vice-Regal Heritage 

Property Master Plan. As reported above, the 

transfer of assets completed through the Vice-Regal 

Heritage Property Master Plan is reflected through 

equity in the balance sheet. 

Program 1—Support for 

the Governor-General 

and Official Activities 

The program comprises two components: 

1. Support of the Governor-General 

2. Administration of the Australian Honours 

and Awards system. 

The objectives of this program are to: 

• provide a high level of policy advice and 

administrative support to the Governor-General 

in support of official duties 

• effectively and efficiently manage and maintain 

the Governor-General’s official residences 

in Canberra and Sydney, including capital 

improvements, building and grounds maintenance 

and caretaker responsibilities 

• administer, on behalf of the Governor-General 

as Chancellor of the Order of Australia, Australia’s 

national honours system, including all civilian 

honours and awards for meritorious action by 

members of the Australian Defence Force 

• undertake research and prepare nominations 

for consideration by the Council for the 

Order of Australia and the Australian Bravery 

Decorations Council 

• provide efficient and effective secretariat support 

to honours advisory bodies 

• undertake the efficient procurement of 

Australian honours medals/insignia, warrants 

and investiture items. 

Tables 1 and 3 summarise the performance 

indicators for Program 1 identified in the 2010–11 

Portfolio Budget Statements, and compare the 

budget identified in those statements to the 

components’ actual cost during the year. 


Chapter Two 

Table 1: Performance indicators for Program 1—Support for the 

Governor-General and Official Activities 

Key performance indicators 

The Governor-General is satisfied with the level of policy advice 

and administrative support provided to enable her to carry out her 

official duties 

2010–11 target 

Governor-General was satisfied 

The Governor-General is satisfied with the management of 

the households 

The properties are managed in accordance with the requirements 

of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, 

Government policies relating to heritage properties and with 

standards and requirements of the Official Establishments Trust and 

the National Capital Authority 

The honours advisory councils are satisfied with the quality of 

research and administrative support provided 

The medals and/insignia meet design specifications 

90% of nominations for Order of Australia awards are researched and 

presented to the Council for the Order Of Australia within 18 months 

95% of researched nominations for bravery awards are presented to 

the Australian Bravery Decorations Council within 6 months 

95% of nominations for long service and occupational awards are 

processed within 2 months 

95% of recommendations for distinguished, conspicuous, gallantry 

and meritorious awards are processed and gazetted within 6 months 

Governor-General was satisfied 

Legislative requirements met 

Councils were satisfied 

Specifications met 

Target exceeded by two per cent 

Target exceeded by two per cent 

Target exceeded by three per cent 

Target exceeded by four per cent 

Table 2: Performance trend information 

Four of the Office’s performance indicators are measured against an objective performance benchmark. 

Three indicators have been in place for three financial years. The fourth is a new indicator in 2010–11. The 

Office continues to exceed the benchmark for each of these indicators, as follows: 

Indicator Target 2008–09 

performance 

2009–10 

performance 

2010–11 

performance 

90% of nominations for Order of Australia awards 

are researched and presented to the Council for 

the Order Of Australia within 18 months 

90% 100% 93% 92% 

95% of researched nominations for bravery 

awards are presented to the Australian Bravery 

Decorations Council within 6 months 

95% of nominations for long service and 

occupational awards are processed within 2 months 

95% 100% 97% 97% 

95% 97% 98% 98% 

95% of recommendations for distinguished, 

conspicuous, gallantry and meritorious awards 

are processed and gazetted within 6 months 

95% New 

indicator 


New 

indicator 


99% 



Overview 

Table 3: Financial performance for Program 1 

Budget Estimate 


$‘000 

Actual 


$‘000 

Departmental appropriation - Cost of Components 1 and 2 11,621 11,522 

Administered Appropriation 2,063 1,883 

Expenses not requiring appropriation 45 38 

Total 13,729 13,443 

Report on performance in 2010–11 

Program Component 1—Support 

of the Governor-General 

Resources applied to this component are directed to: 

• providing policy and executive support to the 

Governor-General; planning, implementing and 

managing Their Excellencies’ forward program 

of engagements; and liaising with representatives 

of governments and related authorities, and 

community groups 

• providing household support for Their 

Excellencies and hospitality services for 

representational functions 

• providing administrative services, including 

governance advice, to the Office and managing 

the Governor-General’s official residences, 

including maintenance of property, equipment 

and grounds. 

Table 4: Financial performance for Component 1 



$‘000 

Actual 


$‘000 

Departmental appropriation - Cost of Component 1 6,392 6,337 

Administered Appropriation - Governor-General’s salary 394 394 

Administered Appropriation - Depreciation 900 687 


Total 7,710 7,439 


Chapter Two 

Official activities 

The Office provided comprehensive support to 

the Governor-General throughout a year in which 

engagement with communities affected by natural 

disasters and several significant commemorative 

occasions overseas added to a busy program of viceregal 

commitments. The Governor-General’s program 

enabled her to meet with people and organisations 

from a broad cross-section of the Australian 

community in metropolitan locations as well as in 

country areas. Around 30 per cent of external events 

attended by the Governor-General in Australia 

were in regional and remote areas. She represented 

Australia at historic military anniversaries and other 

State events overseas. Highlights and statistical detail 

of the activities involved are addressed in Key results. 

Work teams, individual staff members and task 

forces within the Office received positive and 

constructive feedback from the Governor-General 

on the quality of support provided, in terms of policy 

advice and administration and the management of 

the households. The ability of the Office to respond 

to unforeseen circumstances affecting the program 

was appreciated, as was the range and depth of the 

Office’s interaction with outside stakeholders. 

Favourable comment on events involving the 

Governor-General was received from representatives 

of governments, agencies and community 

organisations as well as guests of the Governor- 

General, visitors to the vice-regal properties and 

members of the public. Visits to Government House 

by school groups continued to grow strongly, and 

the 30,000th student during Ms Bryce’s term of 

office visited in March 2011. Activity on the Office’s 

website increased to record levels, peaking noticeably 

after the publication of the Australia Day and The 

Queen’s Birthday honours lists. 

The Governor-General officially opens the 43rd Commonwealth Parliament in the Senate Chamber in Parliament House, 

Canberra, 28 September 2010. Photo: Howard Moffat, AUSPIC. 


Profile 

Sam Groves, 

Communications and Media Assistant 

Sam hit the ground running when he joined 

the Government House Communications and 

Media Unit in May 2010. 

‘My role is to assist the Senior Communications and 

Media Adviser in handling a wide variety of tasks, 

many with tight deadlines’, Sam says. 

‘On any given day, I will respond to inquiries 

about the Governor-General from media all over 

Australia, accompany her to events to work with 

media representatives on their coverage, take 

photographs for the Office’s website, draft messages 

for community organisations, respond to inquiries 

from the public, and update the www.gg.gov.au 

website. Our policy is to update the site every 24 

hours with photographs, speeches and information 

about the Governor-General’s activities. That can be 

challenging on overseas visits, with the hectic pace of 

the program and time differences. 

Sam came to Government House after working for 

the Queanbeyan Age and the Bay Post in Bateman’s 

Bay. But his affinity with rural and regional areas began 

at the Tenterfield Star in northern New South Wales. 

‘I decided to study journalism and public relations 

at university before landing my first full-time job 

as a cadet journalist at the Tenterfield Star. It was 

there that I gained a first-hand insight into Australian 

political history, as the town is the birthplace of 

Federation’, Sam says. 

‘I am reminded of my experiences as a country news 

reporter during regional visits with the Governor- 

General – the diverse landscapes, the people, 

the communities that come together in times of 

celebration and grief. I see a genuine connection 

between Ms Bryce and the people she meets, 

whether they are farmers, emergency workers during 

times of crisis, or Indigenous children clamouring to 

hold her hand in remote communities.’ 

‘I feel privileged to photograph these special 

moments and share them with other Australians 

through the website, along with videos and 

speeches that show the diversity and importance 

of the Governor-General’s role.’ 


17

Chapter Two 

Property management 

The Office maintains two official residences: 

Government House in Canberra and Admiralty 

House in Sydney. Both are important historic 

properties that are heritage-listed national assets 

maintained for the benefit of all Australians. 

To maintain the integrity and standards of the 

official residences, the Office consults the Official 

Establishments Trust on all major maintenance, 

refurbishment and landscaping issues. It engages 

heritage architects from various disciplines to assist 

in the planning, procurement and delivery phases of 

key projects. The Office also consults the National 

Capital Authority before undertaking refurbishment 

or landscaping works at Government House that 

fall within the Authority’s legislative responsibilities. 

Where works have, or are likely to have, an impact 

on heritage aspects, the Office seeks approval 

from the Minister responsible for heritage matters, 

as required by the Environment Protection and 

Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). 

Key results 

Official activities overview 

The official activities which form part of 

Component 1 include representational events such 

as investitures, receptions, lunches and dinners 

hosted by the Governor-General. In addition to 

these functions, in 2010–11, the Governor-General 

attended 390 events hosted by organisations, 

expanding the community engagement that has 

been a hallmark of Ms Bryce’s term of office. The 

Office’s website (www.gg.gov.au) provided regular 

updates on the broad range of activities undertaken 

by the Governor-General and Mr Bryce. 

Table 5: Activities and correspondence in 2010–11 

Number 

Attendees 

Official activities 

Government House 91 7,338 

Admiralty House 43 3,547 

Outside venues 2 132 

Total 136 11,017 

School tours 282 16,216 

Other events attended 390 

Briefings prepared 684 

Anniversary requests handled a 16,994 

Items of correspondence handled b 14,532 

a 

Requests for messages of congratulation from Her Majesty The Queen and the Governor‐General for Australians celebrating special 

birthdays or wedding anniversaries. 

b 

General correspondence, excluding matters relating to the Australian honours and awards system 



Overview 

Constitutional activities 

The Office supports the performance of the 

Governor-General’s constitutional responsibilities 

by undertaking research and planning, liaising with 

other agencies and organisations and providing 

advice and briefing. 

During 2010–11 the Office supported the 

Governor-General (or Administrator) in presiding 

at 21 meetings of the Federal Executive Council, 

at which 476 agenda items were considered. Royal 

Assent was given to 132 pieces of legislation. 

On 14 September 2010, following the federal 

election the previous month, the Governor-General 

administered the Affirmation of Office to the 

Honourable Julia Gillard MP as Prime Minister of 

Australia. Directly afterwards, she issued the Oaths 

and Affirmations of Office and Executive Councillor 

Oaths and Affirmations to newly appointed Ministers 

and Parliamentary Secretaries. On 28 September 

2010, the Governor-General attended and addressed 

the first session of the Forty-third Commonwealth 

Parliament. The Governor-General received the 

Address-in-Reply from the President of the Senate, 

Senator the Honourable John Hogg, and the Speaker 

of the House of Representatives, the Honourable 

Harry Jenkins MP, on 1 and 2 March 2011 respectively. 

On 21 February 2011, the Governor-General 

conducted a ceremony at which Senator 

the Honourable Kate Lundy was sworn in as 

Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister 

and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and 

Multicultural Affairs. 

The Office worked closely with the Department 

of Foreign Affairs and Trade in arranging credentials 

ceremonies to enable newly appointed heads 

of diplomatic missions to present their letters 

of credence to the Governor-General as soon 

as possible after their arrival in Australia. In 

2010–11, 22 credentials ceremonies were held 

at Government House on seven occasions. The 

Ambassadors and High Commissioners involved 

comprised 18 resident in Canberra and four who 

were accredited on a non-resident basis. 

Commander-in-Chief 

Under Section 68 of the Constitution, the 

Governor-General is the Commander-in-Chief 

of the Australian Defence Force, including the 

permanent force and reservists. In this role, the 

Governor-General, through the Federal Executive 

Council, appoints the Chief and Vice-Chief of the 

Defence Force and the chiefs of the three armed 

services, and commissions officers in the Royal 

Australian Navy, the Australian Army and the Royal 

Australian Air Force. 

As Commander-in-Chief, the Governor-General 

has an important ceremonial role to play, attending 

military parades, graduation ceremonies and 

commemorative occasions such as ANZAC Day 

and Remembrance Day, and presenting Colours 

and other insignia to units of the Australian Defence 

Force. The Governor-General also met privately with 

the families of soldiers killed in action. The Office 

liaised closely with the Department of Defence to 

coordinate the Governor-General’s involvement in 

such events including the following: 

• attendance at the Dedication and Burial 

Ceremony at Fromelles Military Cemetery, 

France, in July 2010, the Sandakan Day Memorial 

Service in Sabah, Malaysia, in August 2010, and 

ANZAC Day services at Hellfire Pass and 

Kanchanaburi, Thailand in April 2011 

• attendance at the Vietnam Veterans’ Remembrance 

Day Service at the Australian Vietnam Forces 

National Memorial, Canberra, on 18 August 2010 

• presentation of the Governor-General’s banner to 

27 Squadron, Townsville, 2 AFDS (Airfield Defence 

Squadron) at RAAF Base Amberley, and the RAAF 

School of Air Traffic Control, on 22 August 2010, 

19 May 2011 and 24 May 2011 respectively 

• the unveiling of the National Service Memorial at 

the Australian War Memorial on 8 September 2010 

• the unveiling of a plaque to commemorate the 

dedication of the Australian Defence Force 

Memorial Plantation near Campbelltown and the 

planting of one of 45,000 trees which form the 

Remembrance Driveway on 15 November 2010 

• attendance at a parade and commemoration 

to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Royal 

Australian Air Force on 27 March 2011 

• a visit to Al Minhad Airbase, United Arab Emirates, 

on 10 June 2011, to attend a memorial service 

for Australian servicemen who have lost their lives 

in Afghanistan 

• attendance at a Ceremonial Sunset and graduation 

parade at HMAS CRESWELL on 23 June 2011. 


Chapter Two 

The Governor-General is received by the 

President of the Socialist Republic of 

Vietnam, His Excellency Mr Nguyen Minh 

Triet at the Presidential Palace, Hanoi, on 

9 May 2011. 

D e sp atch 

The Governor-General paying her 

respects at the Long Tan Memorial Cross 

in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, Vietnam on 

13 May 2011. 

State Visit to 

Vietnam 

From 8–14 May 2011, Ms Bryce became the first 

Australian Governor-General to make a State 

Visit to Vietnam. After meeting the President, 

the Prime Minister and the Communist Party General 

Secretary in Hanoi, Ms Bryce travelled to Danang, 

Hue, Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province. 

The visit program underlined the depth and range of 

Australia’s engagement with Vietnam in areas such as 

education, health and child safety. Highlights included 

visits to the RMIT University in Ho Chi Minh City and 

the Hue Eye Hospital, which is supported by the Fred 

Hollows Foundation. A concert at the Ho Chi Minh 

City Opera House, at which Australian and Vietnamese 

musicians performed together, celebrated bilateral 

cultural relations. 

A visit to the Long Tan Cross Memorial Site was 

particularly poignant. The Governor-General 

presided over a moving ceremony at the site –in a 

rubber plantation where a major battle between the 

Viet Cong and allied forces took place on 18 August 

1966. A cross was erected there by members of 

the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, to 

commemorate those who lost their lives in the 

battle. After the ceremony, the Governor-General 

met several Australian veterans who now reside in 

the nearby area. 



Ceremonial activities 

In 2010–11, the Office supported the 

Governor-General in presiding over a wide range 

of ceremonial functions, including investitures of 

Australian honours and awards, receiving foreign 

dignitaries, and representing Australia on State 

occasions abroad. The Office planned and supported 

nine overseas visits by the Governor-General and 

Mr Bryce. 

Investitures 

Nine investiture ceremonies for Australian award 

recipients were held during the reporting year. 

Four general sessions held in September 2010 and 

April 2011 involved the presentation of 174 awards 

to individuals for outstanding achievement and 

significant contributions to the community and the 

nation. The awards included the Order of Australia 

and decorations for bravery and military service in 

operational and peacetime activities. For the second 

time during her term of office, the Governor-General 

presented a member of the Australian Defence Force 

with the nation’s highest honour, the Victoria Cross 

for Australia. 

From time to time, the Office arranges special 

investiture ceremonies for recipients of unique or 

nationally significant awards, or recipients who reside 

in remote or foreign locations the Governor-General 

happens to visit. In 2010–11, special investiture 

ceremonies included the following: 

• On 17 August 2010, the eve of the 44 th 

anniversary of the Battle of Long Tan on 

18 August 1966, two veterans of this significant 

chapter in Australia’s military history received 

high military honours. Major Geoff Martin Kendall 

MG was invested with the Medal for Gallantry 

for his action in hazardous circumstances as 

a platoon commander during the battle. The 

Distinguished Service Cross was presented to 

Mrs Joan Dohle, the widow of the late Flight 

Lieutenant Clifford Mitchell Dohle DSC, for 

his leadership in action as the captain of an 

Iroquois helicopter of Number 9 Squadron, Royal 

Australian Air Force, during the battle. 

• On 23 January 2011, Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith 

VC MG was invested at Campbell Barracks, Perth, 

as the second recipient of the Victoria Cross for 

Australia, the pre-eminent award for bravery in 

wartime. Corporal Roberts-Smith was awarded 

the Victoria Cross for Australia for displaying the 

most conspicuous gallantry and daring in the face 

of the enemy while in circumstances of extreme 

peril as Patrol Second-in-Command, Special 

Operations Task Group, Operation SLIPPER, 

Afghanistan. 

• On 29 April 2011, Mr John Dauth AO LVO, 

Australia’s High Commissioner to the United 

Kingdom, was invested in London as an Officer 

of the Order of Australia for his distinguished 

service to international relations through the 

advancement of Australia’s diplomatic, trade 

and cultural links, particularly with the United 

Kingdom and New Zealand, and through 

contributions to the United Nations. At the same 

ceremony, Colonel John Hutcheson AM was 

invested as a Member of the Order of Australia 

for exceptional service as Commander of Joint 

Task Force 635, Commander International 

Stabilisation Force Timor-Leste, and Director of 

Studies, Australian Command and Staff College. 

• During her visit to France in July 2010, the 

Governor-General invested the Mayor of 

Fromelles, Monsieur Hubert Huchette, as an 

Honorary Member in the General Division of 

the Order of Australia. 

The Governor-General receiving credentials from the High 

Commissioner for South Africa, Her Excellency Ms Koleka 

Anita Mqulwana on 17 February 2011. 


21

Chapter Two 

Meetings with visiting heads of state 

and heads of government 

The Governor-General and Mr Bryce hosted State 

dinners in honour of the President of Malta, His 

Excellency Dr George Abela, on 21 March 2011, 

and of the President of the Republic of Cyprus, 

His Excellency Mr Demetris Christofias, on 25 May 

2011. 

The Governor-General received the Governor-General 

of New Zealand, His Excellency the Right Honourable 

Sir Anand Satyanand GNZM QSO, when the two 

Governors-General inaugurated the Constellation Cup 

(the trans-Tasman women’s netball competition) in 

Adelaide on 29 August 2010. 

The Governor-General hosted a dinner in honour of 

the King of Tonga, His Majesty King George Tupou V, 

on 22 October 2010. 

The Governor-General received the Prime Minister 

of Malaysia, the Right Honourable Dato’ Sri Najib 

Tun Razak, on 3 March 2011, and the Prime Minster 

of New Zealand, the Right Honourable John Key, on 

19 June 2011. 

Official overseas visits 

On 17 July 2010, the Governor-General and Mr 

Bryce travelled to France to attend a service for 

the re-interment of an unknown soldier at Pheasant 

Wood Military Cemetery in Fromelles, France, and 

other services and events associated with Australian 

involvement on the Western Front in World War I. 

On 30 July 2010, the Governor-General, 

accompanied by Mr Bryce, represented Australia 

at celebrations held in Port Vila, Vanuatu, for that 

country’s 30 th anniversary of independence. 

On 15 August 2010, the Governor-General, 

accompanied by Mr Bryce, represented Australia at 

a service to commemorate the 65th anniversary of 

the Sandakan Death Marches in Sabah, East Malaysia. 

On 29 November 2010, the Governor-General led 

Australia’s delegation to Zurich, Switzerland, at a 

series of events associated with Football Federation 

Australia’s 2022 FIFA World Cup bid. 

On 22 February 2011, the Governor-General and 

Mr Bryce departed for an official visit to Kuwait, 

where the Governor-General represented Australia 

at a series of events commemorating the 50 th 

anniversary of Kuwait’s independence and the 

20 th anniversary of the country’s liberation, and 

undertook a program of bilateral engagements. 

The Governor-General and Mr Michael Bryce receive the President of the Republic of Cyprus, Mr Demetris Christofias, and 

Mrs Elisavet Christofia on 25 May 2011. 



Overview 

On 18 March 2011, the Governor-General 

accompanied by the Prime Minister and Leader 

of the Opposition represented Australia at the 

Earthquake Memorial Service in Christchurch, 

New Zealand. 

On 22 April 2011, the Governor-General and 

Mr Bryce undertook official visits to Thailand and 

the United Kingdom. In Thailand on 25 April, the 

Governor-General attended the ANZAC Day Dawn 

Service at Hellfire Pass, and a commemorative 

service at Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. In London 

on 29 April, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce 

attended the wedding of His Royal Highness Prince 

William of Wales KG and Miss Catherine Middleton. 

From 8–14 May 2011, Ms Bryce made the first State 

visit by an Australian Governor-General to Vietnam. 

In a program that included Hanoi, Danang, Hue, Ho 

Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province, the 

Governor-General met the President of Vietnam, 

His Excellency Mr Nguyen Minh Triet, the Prime 

Minister, His Excellency Mr Nguyen Tan Dung, and 

the General Secretary of the Communist Party and 

Chairman of the National Assembly, His Excellency 

Dr Nguyen Phu Trong, and provincial leaders. 

On 29 May 2011, the Governor-General and 

Mr Bryce made official visits to Italy and Spain. 

In Rome, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce 

attended a series of events associated with 

the 150 th anniversary of the unification of Italy, 

and undertook a program of bilateral calls and 

visits. The Governor-General was received by 

His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI in Vatican City. In 

Madrid, the Governor-General was presented with 

the keys to the city by the Mayor, Mr Alberto Ruiz 

Gallardon, and she and Mr Bryce were guests of 

honour at a lunch hosted by His Royal Highness the 

Prince of Asturias, Felipe de Borbon y Grecia and 

Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, Letizia 

Ortiz Rocasolano. The Governor-General visited the 

Navantia dockyards at Ferrol to view the Landing 

Helicopter Docks (LHD) project. 

Wherever possible, the Office included opportunities 

for the Governor-General to meet Australian 

expatriates and alumni of Australian education 

institutions during overseas visits. Meetings and 

site visits were organised through the relevant 

Australian diplomatic mission, to support Australian 

development assistance efforts and business, trade 

and other bilateral linkages. 

The Governor-General and Prime Minister, the Hon Julia Gillard MP, inspect earthquake damage in Christchurch on 18 March 2011. 


Chapter Two 

D e sp atch 

Fromelles, Sandakan, Hellfire Pass 

The Governor-General paying 

her respects at the Sandakan 

Day Memorial Service in Sabah, 

East Malaysia, marking the 

65th anniversary of the Death 

Marches on 15 August 2010. 

The Governor-General joining Australians and officials 

to mark Anzac Day 2011 at Hellfire pass, Thailand. 


The Governor-General walking behind the casket of the 250th unnamed soldier to be 

re-intered at Fromelles during the Dedication Ceremony at Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) 

Military Cemetery on 19 July 2010. 

In 2010–11, the Governor-General 

commemorated the spirit of Australian 

servicemen and women in many wars, including 

at ceremonies in Fromelles, Sandakan, and Hellfire 

Pass, places whose names alone evoke wartime 

hardship and sacrifice. 

In July 2010, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce 

joined TRH The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of 

Cornwall in the small French town of Fromelles, to 

witness the dedication of a new military cemetery 

where more than 250 Australian and British soldiers 

involved in the Battle of Fromelles in 1916 were 

re-interred. On the bloodiest day in Australia’s 

military history, 5,533 Diggers were recorded as killed, 

wounded or missing at Fromelles. The ceremony was 

attended by Australian relatives of some of the 203 

Australian soldiers identified during the exhumation 

of mass graves at nearby Pheasant Wood. 

On 15 August 2010, two former prisoners of war 

joined the Governor-General and hundreds of other 

Australians, British and Malaysians in Sabah, East 

Malaysia, to commemorate the 65th anniversary 

of the Sandakan Death Marches. The ceremony, 

in a quiet jungle clearing on the site of a former 

POW camp, honoured the 2,700 Australian and 

British POWs who were taken to Sandakan by the 

Japanese, and the local civilians who suffered and 

died during the occupation. Paying tribute to the 

Sabahans and Australians involved, the Governor- 

General remarked that ‘together, they found and 

modelled a way of living, based on friendship and 

compassion between people, and respect and 

support between nations’. 

The Governor-General commemorated ANZAC 

Day 2011 at Hellfire Pass, Thailand. Ms Bryce was 

accompanied at the Dawn Service by four former 

POWs who worked on the infamous railway cutting 

in 1942. Lex Arthurson, Cyril Gilbert OAM, Bill 

Schmidt and the Hon Tom Uren AO were applauded 

by those who had gathered at the ceremony to 

remember the estimated 2,650 Australians who died 

during construction of the Thai Burma Railway. In her 

address, the Governor-General said, ‘our torchlight 

recalls the long-lit, gruelling nights of work, the days 

that never gave way to nourishment and sleep … 

our soldiers’ strange and gruesome battlefield’. The 

Governor-General later represented Australia at a 

commemorative service at the Kanchanaburi war 

cemetery, and met other former POWs, relatives 

and visitors. 


25

Chapter Two 

Community engagement 

The Governor-General is uniquely placed to 

participate in contemporary Australian society 

and to help articulate the many experiences of 

national life. She is able to reflect and recognise the 

values, achievements and aspirations of Australians, 

to acknowledge and encourage their endeavours, 

to support and comfort them in times of distress, 

and to make connections between people and 

organisations across the country and internationally. 

The Governor-General is a key supporter of 

civil society in Australia through her patronage 

of a diversity of organisations, participation in a 

broad range of presentation ceremonies, launches, 

commemorations and celebrations. In her role the 

Governor-General brings together people to share 

concerns and ideas, and visits cities, regions and 

rural and remote areas to connect with people 

and groups who are working to build a strong 

and caring community. 

Volunteerism, service to others and generosity of 

spirit are common themes in the Governor-General’s 

engagement with the community, and hold the 

key to many of her program commitments. In this 

regard, 2010–11 saw Ms Bryce speak at an event 

to mark the 90 th anniversary of Rotary in Australia, 

thank volunteers assisting with disaster relief in 

numerous areas of Queensland, Victoria and Western 

Australia and in Christchurch, New Zealand, meet 

Australians working in Vietnam and Vanuatu as Youth 

Ambassadors or in other voluntary capacities, and 

host a reception to launch the International Year 

of Volunteers Plus 10. She also launched The Book 

of Life, a collection of stories by organ and tissue 

donors and recipients, as part of DonateLife Week in 

February 2011, opened the 12 th Australian Transplant 

Games in Canberra on 3 October 2010, and hosted 

a reception to mark the 15 th anniversary of the Rural 

Health Education Foundation on 9 February 2011. 

The Office donated 103 bottles of Grange 

Hermitage wine from the Government House 

cellar that were surplus to requirements to 

Australian charities for use in fund-raising in the 

broader community. Each bottle was signed by the 

Governor-General. The receiving charities, from 

every state and territory in Australia, were drawn 

at random from hundreds of applications received. 

The Governor-General marking the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Islamic Women’s Association of Queensland in 

Springwood, Brisbane on 28 January 2011. 



Overview 

Patronages 

The Governor-General is Patron of over 300 

organisations including many charities that 

contribute to the social and cultural wellbeing of 

Australian society and are active in areas such as 

children and families, health, sport, education, science 

and research, history and the arts. In this capacity, 

she is able to raise organisations’ national profiles, 

encourage their work and broaden popular support 

for them. 

In 2010–11, the Governor-General visited several 

patronage organisations, and hosted functions for 

others marking special anniversaries, launching 

new initiatives, and honouring the vital work of 

volunteers and the generosity of supporters. 

Among these was the Australian Association for 

UNHCR, the St James Ethics Centre, the Pathways 

Foundation, Special Olympics Australia, Girl Guides 

Australia, the NELUNE Foundation and the National 

Gallery of Australia Foundation. 

Regional centre visits 

In 2010–11, the Governor-General visited many areas 

struck by natural disasters (See Despatch p.10) and 

other regional centres, including the following: 

• on 21 September 2010, the Governor-General 

travelled to the Riverina to open the Henty 

Machinery Field Days and attended a civic 

reception in Wagga Wagga 

• on 20–21 November 2010, the Governor-General 

travelled to western Queensland where she 

participated in events to mark the 90 th anniversary 

of Qantas in Longreach, and visited Ilfracombe 

where she hosted a community morning tea at 

the Wellshot Hotel 

• the Governor-General opened the 150 th 

Maitland Show on 19 February 2011, the 125 th 

Camden Agricultural Show on 9 April 2011, and 

the Annual Fraser Coast Agricultural Show in 

Maryborough on 27 May 2011. 

The Office supported the Governor-General in 

hosting functions for many community representatives 

and organisations at the official properties and during 

the Governor-General and Mr Bryce’s visits to places 

outside Canberra and Sydney. 

The Governor-General presents the 2010 Governor-General’s Indigenous Student Teacher Scholarships on 9 August 2010. 


Chapter Two 

Representational functions 

Over 11,000 people were guests of the 

Governor-General and Mr Bryce, attending 134 

official functions and events held at Government 

House and Admiralty House during the year. 

Two events were hosted at outside venues. These 

functions included: 

• a reception for representatives of Victorian 

organisations of which the Governor-General 

is Patron 

• two Christmas parties for children with 

special needs 

• a reception to honour all finalists in the 51 st 

Australian of the Year awards 

• a morning tea, lunch and reception to mark the 

centenary of International Women’s Day 

• a morning tea in recognition of International 

Midwives Day 

• a dinner to mark the retirement of Air Chief 

Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC as Chief of the 

Defence Force 

• a dinner in honour of United Nations High 

Commissioner for Human Rights, Her Excellency 

Ms Navi Pillay 

• a lunch in recognition of the International Day 

of Older Persons 

• receptions for graduates of the Australian 

Defence Force Academy and Royal Military 

College Duntroon 

• a reception for participants in the ‘Ride for 

Democracy’ organised by the Constitution 

Education Fund Australia 

• a reception in honour of Commonwealth Writers 

Prize finalists 

• a reception following the second annual 

Governor-General’s Indigenous Teacher 

Scholarships presentation ceremony. 

The Governor-General meets members of the Ulysses Motorcycle Club who took part in the Constitution Education Fund 

Australia’s AusCivics ‘Ride for Democracy’ program on 10 August 2010. 


The Governor-General and guests mark the 100th anniversary of International 

Women’s Day at Government House, Canberra on 8 March 2011. 

D e sp atch 

Centenary of International Women’s Day 

T 

he 100 th anniversary of International 

Women’s Day on 8 March 2011 was 

an historic day for women everywhere. 

Government House in Canberra celebrated with 

three separate functions hosted by the Governor- 

General. Together, these events marked the 

inauguration of the National Committee for UN 

Women Australia, launched a new book, Women’s 

Words of Wisdom, Power and Passion, and brought 

together some of the pioneers of the Australian 

women’s movement as well as women of all ages 

and walks of life. 

Guests included the Minister for the Status 

of Women, the Hon. Kate Ellis MP, the Sex 

Discrimination Commissioner, Ms Elizabeth 

Broderick, women from rural communities 

throughout Australia, Tiwi Islanders, Sudanese 

migrants, and women heads of mission from the 

Canberra diplomatic corps. In her address at the 

evening reception, the Governor-General paid 

tribute to ‘inspiring leaders, dedicated followers, the 

finest ideals – feminist heroines, the great tradition 

of Australian women’s organisations, and Australia’s 

proud record of legal and social reform to achieve 

gender equality’. 


29

Chapter Two 

School visits 

The number of school visits continued to grow 

strongly this year. All together, 16,216 students and 

teachers from 282 schools came to Government 

House in 2010–11, representing a 20 per cent 

increase over the previous year. On 16 March 2011, 

Jack Thorne, a Year 7 student from Toowoomba 

Grammar School, became the 30,000 th school 

student to visit Government House since 

Ms Bryce commenced in office. Among the other 

visitors were 308 Year 11 students from around 

Australia who came to Canberra in January 2011 

to participate in the National Youth Science Forum. 

Typically, school groups were briefed by one of the 

Governor-General’s aides-de-camp and a member 

of the household staff. When her commitments 

allowed, the Governor-General met visiting students. 

Official properties and 

community events 

The Australiana Fund held Open Days at Admiralty 

House in September 2010 and Government House 

in October 2010, in conjunction with similar events 

at The Lodge and Kirribilli House. The Open Days 

drew crowds of 4,100 and 2,000 respectively. The 

Australiana Fund also conducted regular garden 

tours of Government House during the spring and 

autumn months. The Canberra Symphony Orchestra 

launched its 2011 season with a Prom concert in 

the Government House grounds on 19 February. 

Inclement weather on the day accounted for 

a lower than usual turnout, with 3,400 people, 

including many families, attending. 

The Smith Family conducted its annual house and 

garden event at Government House on 6 March 

2011, and the grounds were made available to 

three community groups (Malkara Special School, 

Marymead and the Children’s Medical Research 

Institute) for fundraising purposes. 

Altogether, 15,750 members of the public visited 

the vice-regal properties for these events, donating 

$315,000 to charitable and cultural host organisations. 

The Governor-General visits Canberra Girls’ Grammar School in Deakin on 15 June 2011. 



Robert Leake, 

Chef 

As a student at St Edmunds College in 

Canberra, Robert Leake was fast-tracked 

through the famous rugby school into the 

First Fifteen at an early age, and won a football 

scholarship to Erindale College. But cooking, begun 

as part of a hospitality course at St Edmunds, soon 

took over as his primary passion. 

‘Mum’s a really good cook and I enjoyed it so 

much that I took on an “express apprenticeship” 

at College, then jumped into a full-time 

apprenticeship’, he says. 

Robert spent most of his apprenticeship at 

Canberra’s well-known Ottoman Restaurant, before 

working at Government House, first on a casual 

basis, then as a junior chef. ‘I was amazed when I 

came here. My first impression was “wow – look 

at the size of this kitchen!”.’ 

Robert continues to be impressed by the 

professionalism of Government House operations. 

‘You don’t see anything like it elsewhere in the 

industry. It’s unique. Everything is done with such 

care and dedication, from the immaculate kitchen 

to the timing of the meals and the way they are 

served. The meals are checked individually, and go 

out at exactly the same time, looking identical. The 

wait staff are also highly professional in the way 

they walk the meals out and work around each 

other’, Robert says. 

Robert enjoys working with the Head Chef, Stephen 

Evered, who, he says, will go through recipes 

step-by-step several times if needed. ‘That doesn’t 

happen in restaurants, where recipes might only be 

explained once or twice.’ 

Robert’s specialty is seafood, a popular feature on 

Government House menus. He has also taken up 

baking with a passion, but explains that it is exacting. 

‘The recipes have to be spot-on with baking. If you 

are one or two grams out with your ingredients, you 

can ruin the whole thing.’ 


31

Chapter Two 

Communication and information 

The Office’s Communications and Media Unit 

worked with regional, national and international 

media throughout the year to facilitate coverage 

of the Governor-General’s activities at home and 

abroad. The Australian media reported regularly on 

a wide variety of events in Ms Bryce’s program, thus 

informing the public about all facets of her role and 

her involvement with the community. 

Some of the events which attracted prominent 

coverage included the swearing-in of the Prime 

Minister and the new Ministry following the Federal 

election in August 2010; the unveiling of the National 

Service Memorial at the Australian War Memorial 

on 8 September 2010; the Governor-General’s 

opening on 30 September 2010 of Stage One of the 

redevelopment of the Australian National Gallery, 

which houses new exhibits of rural and urban 

Indigenous paintings and applied arts; the investiture 

of Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG with the 

Victoria Cross for Australia on 23 January 2011; 

the launch of the Australian Campaign for Wool at 

Admiralty House on 29 March 2011, as part of an 

international project to encourage the use of wool in 

homes and businesses; and a ceremony at which the 

Governor-General launched the Ronald McDonald 

Care Mobile on 5 April 2011. Reporting of some 

of the Governor-General’s visits to areas affected 

by natural disasters served to highlight the extent 

of devastation and suffering and the long road to 

recovery, and reflected the sympathy and support 

of Australians for those affected. 

The Governor-General’s visits abroad received 

attention in Australia and in host nations. Reporting 

on a suite of military commemoration services (see 

Despatch p24) in which the Governor-General and 

distinguished Australian veterans participated, was 

particularly important because of the significance 

of these events in Australia’s history. Coverage of 

events such as Australia’s 2022 FIFA World Cup 

bid in November 2010, the wedding of Their Royal 

Highnesses The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 

April 2011, and Ms Bryce’s audience with His Holiness 

Pope Benedict XVI on 1 June 2011 highlighted the 

representational value of the Governor-General’s role 

in Australia’s national interest. 

The Governor-General launching Ronald McDonald House Charities and Royal Far West’s Ronald McDonald Care Mobile 

in Manly, Sydney on 5 April 2011. 



Overview 

The Office assisted the Governor-General with 

the recording of her 2011 ANZAC Day address 

for broadcast, as well as 19 other video and radio 

messages for use by community organisations, and 

the drafting of more than 100 written messages 

in support of their work. It also facilitated in-depth 

interviews which formed the basis of several feature 

articles and profiles in national print media, and 

an episode of the BBC World News program, 

Peschardt’s People. Recurring themes in these 

pieces were the Governor-General’s community 

engagement, her familiarity with issues facing people 

in rural and remote communities, and her passion 

for human rights and gender equality. 

In terms of the Office’s operations, media highlights 

for the year included a six-hour live broadcast from 

Government House on 13 June 2011, focusing on 

recipients of Australian honours in The Queen’s 

Birthday honours list; national broadcast media 

coverage of the thousands of people who visited 

Admiralty House on Open Day in September 2010; 

and a segment for Canberra news television on the 

gardens at Government House. 

Strong public interest in the Governor-General’s 

role and activities and the operations of the 

Office were reflected in record high usage of the 

Office’s updated website. Over 18 million hits 

were recorded in 2010–11, reflecting an increase 

of 20 per cent over the previous year. A large 

proportion of the 420,000 unique visitors to the 

website was attributed to interest in announcements 

of the Order of Australia awards on Australia Day 

and The Queen’s Birthday. Continual development 

of the website and the Office’s practice of uploading 

new content within a 24 hour period maintained 

the vibrancy and immediacy of the site. In line with 

the Government’s Information Publication Scheme, 

a new section was added to the Office’s website in 

2010–11 to enhance the accessibility of data about 

the agency’s functions. 

Correspondence 

In 2010–11, the Office received and attended 

to 14,532 items of correspondence from heads 

of state, foreign and Australian governments, 

officials, academics and business representatives, 

community groups and individuals. Many of these 

items contained messages of support, invitations to 

functions and events, and information and feedback 

from the community. In a growing trend, over 60 per 

cent of correspondence was received by email, and 

the total of general correspondence received during 

the year increased by approximately 70 per cent 

compared with 2009–10. 

In addition, the Honours and Awards Branch 

received 23,945 items of correspondence, including 

1,821 nominations for Order of Australia and 

Australian Bravery decorations. 

The Office sent 10,262 congratulatory messages 

from the Governor-General for significant birthdays 

and wedding anniversaries, and 6,732 congratulatory 

messages on behalf of The Queen. 

Property management 

As noted in previous annual reports, the Office 

received funding, commencing in the 2005–06 

Budget, for the implementation of a ten-year 

property works program for Government House 

and Admiralty House, known as the Vice-Regal 

Heritage Property Master Plan. This initiative by 

the Office maintains and enhances the properties 

for future generations. In 2010–11, some 43,000 

visitors, from school children to foreign heads of 

state, visited the properties. 

Amendments to the Environment Protection and 

Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 require the 

Office to prepare a heritage strategy covering 

Government House and Admiralty House, and 

management plans for each of the properties. 

The current heritage strategy was approved 

in September 2006 and reviewed in 2010. The 

Official Establishments Trust is consulted on these 

strategies and plans which are developed with the 

assistance of the Office’s heritage architects. 


Property works projects completed in 

2010–11 included: 

• upgrading the public lookout on Lady Denman 

Drive to enhance disabled access and general safety 

• installing energy efficient safety lighting along 

external walkways 

• replacing rotten timbers in wharf decking 

• replacing broken storm water drainage on the 

main driveway 

• upgrading drainage and building a small stone wall 

around the main access point to the sewer, as 

required by the local water authority 


Chapter Two 

• stabilising and replanting the lakeward bank in line 

with heritage requirements set by the National 

Capital Authority 

• building a new secure storage facility for medal 

stock and archives. 

Canberra’s long drought broke during the year, 

providing welcome relief for the 60 per cent of 

Government House grounds which are not irrigated. 

The Office worked within guidelines set by the 

National Capital Authority to extract non-potable 

water from Lake Burley Griffin for watering gardens 

and lawns in the managed part of the landscape. 

Owing to natural rainfall and water conservation 

measures introduced by the Office, the need for 

lake water was reduced by 35 per cent compared 

with the previous year. The installation of a central 

irrigation system realised many practical efficiencies, 

including sensor-activated and/or remoteaccess 

cancellation of programs, fault alarms and 

considerable time savings due to automation. 

A severe storm accompanied by gale force easterly 

winds and heavy rainfall struck Yarralumla on 

4 December 2010, resulting in extensive damage 

in the grounds of Government House. With the 

earth already sodden after earlier rainfall, and the 

root systems of many trees still compromised 

by years of drought, the winds damaged trees 

throughout the property. Some 140 trees, 

including pines, eucalypts, elms and oaks had to 

be removed because they were either uprooted 

or so damaged as to be dangerous. Amongst these 

were some trees up to sixty years old. Damage 

from the storm was estimated at $200,000; the 

destroyed trees will yield up to 1,500 cubic metres 

of mulch. The mulch, like other garden waste, will 

be recycled. The remedial action required after 

the storm affected normal grounds maintenance 

activities for approximately six months. By the end 

of 2010–11, however, normal activity was resumed 

in line with the five year Landscape Management 

Plan which was rolled out last year as a blueprint, 

guide and planning tool for the maintenance and 

development of the garden. 

Admiralty House 

Works completed in 2010–11 included: 

• structural repairs to failing sections of the ceiling 

and walls 

• painting the exterior of the main house to 

restore its original colour scheme. 

Planning continued for several complex works yet to 

be scheduled, including rectifying serious rising damp, 

constructing a new sea wall at the eastern end 

of the property, and repairing the historic Marine 

Barracks precinct. Work continued throughout 

the year to improve the garden and landscape at 

Admiralty House in accordance with the Landscape 

Management Plan. 

Security 

The Office worked closely with the Protective 

Security Coordination Centre and the Australian 

Federal Police to identify and respond to security 

issues and to review and upgrade physical security 

arrangements at both properties. 

Works of art and other items 

The Office is grateful to the National Gallery of 

Australia, the Australiana Fund and the Department 

of Parliamentary Services for the loan of paintings, 

sculptures, furniture and other items for public 

display at Government House and Admiralty House. 

It regularly consults the Australiana Fund and the 

National Gallery on interior furnishing and art. 

Some items are exchanged each year as part of an 

ongoing program to display a variety of Australian 

artworks and furniture. 

As at 30 June 2011, paintings, pieces of furniture 

and art objects, with a combined value of over 

$20 million, were on loan to the Office. 



Norm Dunn, 

Head gardener 

Norm Dunn has spent most of his 

working life looking after the gardens at 

Government House. Arriving in 1989 as an 

apprentice, after stints at The Lodge, the National 

Botanic Gardens and Canberra’s first Floriade 

in 1988, Norm became a full time gardener at 

Yarralumla in 1990. The son of a rice farmer from 

the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, Norm has spent 

most of his life outdoors. 

The gardens at Government House provide new 

sensations every season, but Norm has a real 

fondness for winter at Yarralumla. ‘The wonderful 

thing about these gardens is that with four distinct 

seasons, they’re always changing. Winter is stark and 

dramatic, but there are compensations with the 

hellebores, the snowflakes, and the camellias, which 

flower from May until October’, Norm says. ‘Spring 

and autumn are spectacular too, with delicate 

blossoms and vivid foliage.’ 

One of Norm’s favourite spaces is the Lady Gowrie 

garden, named after the wife of Australia’s tenth 

Governor-General, who did much of the planting 

herself in the 1940s. The garden was influenced in 

part by Edna Walling who had become well known 

at that time for her natural approach to garden 

design. Norm likes the garden’s fountain, wisteria 

seat, little bridge and climbing clematis. ‘The Hasluck 

or rhododendron garden is also special, because it’s 

one of the few gardens here that was fully planned. 

The gardens wouldn’t present the way they do 

without the dedication of our gardening staff, and 

there are glimpses of history everywhere’, he says. 

Among the highlights of Norm’s career at 

Government House are the planting of special trees 

by HM The Queen, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh 

and Mrs Hillary Clinton who visited Canberra as 

First Lady of the United States in 1996. 

Norm cites the Landscape Management Plans 

for Government House and Admiralty House 

as a major accomplishment. ‘The plans combine 

knowledge of the history of the gardens with 

details of the plantings and they set standards for 

maintenance and redevelopment works to follow. 

For example, there are around 4,000 trees in the 

garden at Government House and there is a clear 

plan for how they should be managed and replaced 

where necessary’, Norm says. 


35

Chapter Two 

Program Component 2— 

Administration of the 

Australian Honours and 

Awards System 

Resources applied to this component are directed to: 

• conducting comprehensive and independent 

research of nominations for awards 

• providing high quality secretariat support to 

honours advisory bodies 

• interpreting and applying gazettal regulations for 

defence, meritorious, operational service and long 

service awards to ensure that applicants meet 

eligibility criteria 

• making cost-effective resource decisions for the 

timely acquisition of high-quality insignia, warrants 

and honours publications 

• maintaining registers of all award recipients. 

Tables 1 and 2 contain the performance indicators 

for Program Component 2 identified in the 

2010–11 Portfolio Budget Statements and Table 6 

compares the budget identified in those statements 

to the component’s actual cost during the year. 

Table 6: Financial performance for Component 2 



$‘000 

Actual 


$‘000 

Departmental appropriation - Cost of Component 2 5,229 5,185 

Administered Appropriation - Acquisition of Australian honours 

medals/insignia, warrants and investiture items 

769 802 


Total 6,019 6,004 


in 2010–11 

Honours and awards overview 

Australia’s distinctive honours system began in 

1975 with the creation of the Order of Australia 

to recognise service to the nation or humanity. 

Additional awards have subsequently been created, 

including the Australian Bravery Decorations and 

the National Medal, to recognise other areas of 

service valued by Australians. Two new awards in 

the Australian honours system were announced in 

2010–11. 

Her Majesty The Queen approved the design and 

the regulations for the National Police Service Medal 

(NPSM) in late 2010. The NPSM was gazetted in the 

Australian Government Gazette on 3 March 2011, 

following an announcement by the Minister for 

Home Affairs, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP, and 

the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, 

Senator the Hon Kate Lundy. The NPSM will be 

awarded for the unique contribution and significant 

commitment of persons who have given ethical and 

diligent service as a sworn member of an Australian 

police service. Police officers with a minimum of 

15 years’ service on or after 30 October 2008 may 

be eligible for the NPSM. 

In February 2011, Her Majesty The Queen gave inprinciple 

approval for the creation of a new medal 

to recognise extraordinary or sustained services 

to others during a national emergency. This will be 

known as the National Emergency Medal. 

The Order of Australia comprises a General 

Division for civilians and a Military Division for 

members of the Australian Defence Force. It is the 

principal and most prestigious means of recognising 

outstanding members of the community at a 

national level, and nominations are welcomed from 

across Australian society. The award celebrates 

extraordinary achievements and meritorious 



Overview 

contributions that benefit the citizens of Australia 

in fields as diverse as surveying, media, fundraising, 

mountaineering, education, youth, migrant assistance, 

veterinary science, community service and tourism. 

The Governor-General is Chancellor of the 

Order and the Official Secretary to the 

Governor-General is currently the Secretary of 

the Order. An independent Council, the Council for 

the Order of Australia, considers nominations in the 

General Division. Appointments to the Order of 

Australia and awards of the Medal of the Order in the 

Military Division are made by the Governor-General 

on the recommendation of the Minister for Defence. 

Within the honours system, the Australian Bravery 

Decorations are significant awards which recognise 

the courageous actions of those who have placed 

the safety and lives of others before their own. 

Bravery nominations are considered by a second 

independent Council, the Australian Bravery 

Decorations Council. 

Current membership of the Council for the Order 

of Australia and the Australian Bravery Decorations 

Council is provided at Appendix A. The councils 

usually meet twice annually. 

The Honours and Awards Branch researches each 

nomination received, and liaises with nominators and/ 

or referees to develop the documentation that is 

presented to the relevant Council for consideration. 

The councils’ recommendations are considered by 

the Governor-General and, on approval, the Branch 

notifies the recipient, gazettes the awards, and issues 

the announcement of awards via the national media. 

The awards are conferred at investiture ceremonies 

conducted at Government House in Canberra 

or other Government Houses in Australian state 

and territory capitals. For award recipients, these 

ceremonies can mark a lifetime of achievement, and 

investitures are therefore memorable occasions, 

shared with family, friends or colleagues. 

The Branch is responsible for ensuring that all 

other awards—including military, public service, fire, 

emergency, police and ambulance services awards— 

are well documented and processed for approval in 

accordance with gazetted regulations. 

The Branch liaises with the Awards and Culture 

Branch of the Department of the Prime Minister 

and Cabinet and contributes to Australian 

Government promotional campaigns to increase 

awareness of the Australian honours system within 

the community. Effective promotion is vital to ensure 

that nominations cover the diversity of service and 

contribution of all Australians. 

The work of the two honours advisory councils 

involves close liaison between the Honours and 

Awards Branch and the respective chairs and 

council members throughout the year. This dialogue 

provides a means for continuously evaluating the 

Branch’s performance. 

Further information on the criteria and nomination 

processes for specific awards may be found on the 

Office’s website at www.gg.gov.au or on the website 

maintained by the Department of the Prime Minister 

and Cabinet at www.itsanhonour.gov.au. 

Cpl Mark Donaldson VC, Cpl Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG and Keith Payne VC in front of the SAS Memorial Stone at Campbell Barracks, 

Perth on 23 January 2011. 


Chapter Two 


Elizabeth Mitchell 

Assistant Director Honours 

Elizabeth Mitchell has reviewed over 9,000 

nominations for recognition within the Order 

of Australia, and she continues to be inspired 

by Australians who contribute to their communities 

and the nation. 

‘I am excited by what people are doing in 

the community’, Elizabeth says. ‘When I read 

nominations about people who care about and are 

involved with their fellow Australians, I realise the 

capacity we all have to make a difference.’ 

Each nomination is unique; together they range from 

quiet achievers who make valuable contributions in 

their local communities, to national figures whose 

endeavours put Australia on the world stage, to 

expatriates dedicating their lives to disadvantaged 

communities around the world. ‘We receive 

nominations for people from all walks of life— 

musicians, shearers, teachers, scientists, doctors, 

volunteers, athletes, foster carers, humanitarians and 

architects—the list is endless, but they are all doing 

something special to make Australia a better place’, 

says Elizabeth. 

Nomination research is undertaken by Elizabeth’s 

hard working and enthusiastic team, comprising 

13 case officers and two senior case officers. It 

is rigorous and painstaking work, collecting and 

compiling information from referees and other 

sources about each nominee’s contribution for 

presentation to the Order of Australia Council. The 

Council, which convenes twice a year, considers all 

nominations on their individual merits and makes 

recommendations to the Governor-General. 

‘Our case officers come from a wide range of 

backgrounds, for example health and science, 

education, the arts and commerce, and each brings 

a wealth of knowledge and experience to the 

task’, Elizabeth says. ‘Everybody is dedicated and 

passionate about what they do here, so it’s a great 

environment to work in.’ 

Honours lists are announced twice a year, on 

Australia Day and The Queen’s Birthday. 




in 2010–11 

Key results 

The Australian Honours and Awards Branch provided 

high quality support to the Governor-General in 

administering the numerous awards and decorations 

under the Australian honours and awards system. The 

2010–11 financial year was another productive year, 

with significant achievements by the Branch. 

Nominations, awards 

and investitures 

The total number of nominations researched and/ 

or prepared by the Branch for approval by the 

Governor-General in 2010–11 was 9,030. 

These included 1,481 nominations submitted to the 

Council for the Order of Australia. The Council met 

twice in 2010–11. Ninety-two per cent of Order of 

Australia nominations were processed and presented 

to the Council within 18 months of receipt in the 

Branch, two per cent more than the requirement 

stipulated in the Key Performance Indicators. 

In 2010–11, the community sector represented the 

largest number of nominations received and nearly 

half the awards given. The types of community 

service recognised varied widely and included, 

assistance to migrants, women, youth and veterans, 

support for charity, and community health, sport and 

social welfare initiatives. 

In 2010–11, the Branch researched 340 nominations 

for bravery decorations for the Australian Bravery 

Decorations Council, which met twice during 

the year. Ninety-seven per cent of researched 

nominations were presented to the Council within 

six months. The majority of nominations were for 

incidents involving rescue or attempted rescue from 

water or fire. 

The Governor-General approved 731 other awards 

to recognise excellence, for example in specified 

occupations, including police, emergency services, 

and defence personnel on operations around the 

world to protect Australia and its national interests. 

The Governor-General also approved 6,460 

National Medals, which recognise fifteen years or 

more of diligent and efficient service in uniformed 

occupations involving elements of personal risk 

in order to protect the community. These awards 

are administered by the Honours and Awards 

Branch and approved by the Governor-General, 

but they are conferred internally by the relevant 

organisations. Ninety-eight per cent of long service 

and occupational based awards were processed 

within two months of receipt. 

Eighteen non-Australian citizens were recognised 

by honorary awards in the Order of Australia 

during 2010–11. The constitution of the Order 

of Australia provides for honorary awards to be 

recommended (at any level) for foreign citizens who 

have made contributions of significant benefit to 

the Australian community or humanity at large. The 

Prime Minister recommends honorary awards to 

the Governor‐General for approval, and the Office 

is the conduit for these nominations. 

Tables showing the number of nominations considered 

and awards conferred for the Order of Australia 

and the Australian Bravery Decorations in 2010–11, 

and the total number of nominations and awards 

since 1975, are at Appendices B and C respectively. 

Appendix D shows the number of other award 

types made during the year for outstanding 

achievement in specific fields of activity, and the total 

since 1975. 

Mr Martin Bonsey AO CVO, former Official Secretary 

to the Governor-General and former Secretary of 

the Order of Australia, was engaged to examine 

the feasibility of formal review processes within the 

honours nomination system. Mr Bonsey’s report will 

be presented to the Council in February 2012. 

On 21 June 2011 the Governor-General awarded the 

Australian Antarctic Medal to Dr Stephen Nichol, the 

world’s most eminent Antarctic krill scientist and the 

Program Leader of the Southern Ocean Ecosystem 

Change program at the Australian Antarctic Division. 

The Australian Antarctic Medal was also awarded to 

Captain Murray Doyle, the master of the RSV Aurora 

Australis which supported Australian scientific and 

logistical operations in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic 

regions, and former master of the MV Oceanic 

Viking which protected against illegal, unregulated 

and unreported fishing in the Southern Ocean. The 

Australian Antarctic Medal was established in 1987 

and is an award in the Meritorious Service Awards 

category of the Australian honours and awards 

system. It replaced the (British) Imperial Polar Medal 

and its variations which dated back to 1857 for 

service in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. 

On 23 January 2011 the Governor-General invested 

Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG with the 

Victoria Cross for Australia at an investiture held at 

Campbell Barracks, Perth. The investiture of only the 

second recipient of the Victoria Cross for Australia 

was a significant national occasion. 


39

Chapter Two 

The Governor-General invests Cpl Ben Roberts-Smith VC MG with the Victoria Cross 

during a ceremony at Campbell Barracks, Perth on 23 January 2011. 

D e sp atch 

Investiture Of 

Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith Vc Mg 

History was made on 23 January 2011, when 

Australia’s three living Victoria Cross recipients 

gathered at the headquarters of the Special Air 

Services Regiment (SAS), Campbell Barracks, 

Perth. Corporal Mark Donaldson VC and 

Mr Keith Payne VC joined a large crowd including the 

Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Minister for 

Defence, the Chief of Defence Force and the Chief 

of Army to witness Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith 

VC MG being invested by the Governor-General 

with Australia’s highest award for his actions in 

Afghanistan in 2010. Corporal Roberts-Smith thus 

became the most highly decorated member of the 

Australian Defence Force, having previously been 

awarded the Medal for Gallantry for his actions in 

Afghanistan in 2006. 

The choice of venue for the investiture was highly 

symbolic as the parade ground at Campbell Barracks 

includes The Rock, a memorial stone bearing the 

names of all SAS troops who have lost their lives 

on operations or in training. Corporal Donaldson, 

Mr Payne, and Corporal Roberts-Smith chose The 

Rock as the focal point for official photographs 

following the ceremony. 



Approval for Australians to wear 

foreign awards 

Nearly 8,000 awards bestowed on Australian citizens 

by foreign governments or international organisations 

were approved by the Governor-General in 2010–11. 

The acceptance and wearing of foreign honours by 

any Australian citizen is subject to the permission of 

the Governor-General on the recommendation of 

the Prime Minister or responsible Minister. A request 

to confer an honour or award on an Australian citizen 

will be considered if it is made by the head of state 

or the government of a country with which Australia 

maintains diplomatic relations, or by a United Nations 

agency or other international organisation recognised 

by Australia. 

Almost 30 countries or organisations recognised 

Australian citizens in 2010–11, including Timor- 

Leste, the United Nations, the North Atlantic Treaty 

Organisation, the United States of America, Malaysia, 

Papua New Guinea, France and Multinational Force 

and Observers. The majority of foreign awards 

approved in 2010–11 were from the Timorese 

Government, which presented the Timor-Leste 

Solidarity Medal to members of national and 

international forces who contributed to stability and 

peace operations in Timor-Leste since May 2006. 

The medal was presented to eligible Australian 

Defence Force and Australian Federal Police 

personnel who served on a mandated mission. 

Other business 

During the financial year, three new booklets were 

published (covering awards and decorations for 

Gallantry, Meritorious and Conspicuous Service) and 

were distributed to award recipients at investitures 

across Australia. These booklets are in the same 

series as those previously published for the Order 

of Australia and Australian Bravery Decorations and 

have attracted positive comment on their high quality 

and user-friendly format. The booklets include the 

regulations and determinations governing each award, 

as well as the Constitution and related Ordinances 

for the Order of Australia.The remaining booklets in 

the series (Distinguished Awards and the Guide to 

Wearing) are expected to be available for distribution 

in 2011–12. The contents of all published booklets 

were posted on the Office’s website to make them 

readily accessible to the general public. 

Over 1,400 medals were engraved and warrants 

prepared for presentation at investitures across the 

country during 2010–11. In addition, the Branch 

arranged the engraving of some 6,800 other awards, 

mostly long service and operational awards, which 

are not presented at investiture ceremonies. All 

medals and insignia met design specifications. The 

Office holds contracts with reputable suppliers for 

the provision of insignia and has in place an inventory 

control system to ensure their timely purchase. 

The Honours and Awards Branch maintained and 

updated the register of recipients of awards in the 

Australian honours and awards system. 

Investiture recipients and their families share refreshments after an investiture ceremony at Government House, Canberra on 

15 April 2011. 


41

Ch a pte r Th r e e 

Management & accountability


Corporate governance 

The Official Secretary, in his role as Chief Executive 

Officer, is responsible for the proper management 

of Australian Government resources and the 

achievement of the highest possible performance 

from the Office. The Office’s Management 

Committee assists the Official Secretary to 

meet his statutory responsibilities under the 

Governor-General Act 1974 and the Financial 

Management and Accountability Act 1997. 

The Corporate Services Branch supports the 

Official Secretary’s overall governance responsibilities 

by facilitating the development of business plans; 

establishing policy and accountability frameworks; 

managing risk, fraud and security planning; setting 

frameworks for advising on people management; 

managing industrial relations; and overseeing budget 

management of the Office. The Branch also manages 

the official properties and coordinates physical 

security services. 

Committees 

The Office has established the following committees: 

Management Committee 

The Management Committee meets monthly and 

comprises the Official Secretary as Chief Executive 

Officer; the Deputy Official Secretary as Deputy 

Chief Executive Officer; and the Directors of the 

Corporate Services, Honours and Awards, and 

Executive and Protocol Branches. 

The Management Committee has the following 

overall responsibilities: 

• to establish and drive the direction, strategies, 

financial objectives and monitoring arrangements 

for the Office 

• to implement Office policies, strategies and 

financial objectives 

• to ensure the Office delivers its 

corporate objectives 

• to ensure the Office delivers its outcome 

to the Government 

• to provide active leadership of risk 

management activities 

• to monitor compliance with regulatory 

requirements and ethical standards. 

Audit Committee 

The Audit Committee comprises an external 

member, Mr Bruce Jones (Chair), Mr Mark 

Fraser (Deputy Official Secretary), Ms Sharon 

Prendergast and Ms Karen Baker (Directors of 

the Honours and Awards and Corporate Services 

Branch respectively). It is responsible for providing 

independent assurance and assistance to the 

Official Secretary on the Office’s risk, control and 

compliance frameworks and external accountability. 

The Audit Committee endorses the annual 

audit program for the Office, considers the 

recommendations contained in individual 

reports, and monitors the implementation of 

any changes in policies and practices pursuant 

to such recommendations. The Committee also 

receives and approves the Office’s annual financial 

statements and associated audit report. 

Other committees 

In 2010–11 a Financial Statements Sub-Committee 

was again established to oversee the effective 

preparation of the Office’s financial statements. 

The Workplace Consultative Committee continued 

to provide a forum for consulting staff on salary 

and employment conditions and for monitoring the 

implementation of employment policies and practices. 

The Occupational Health and Safety Committee 

monitored and advised on health and safety issues 

throughout the year. 

The Official Secretary to the Governor-General heads a Management 

Committee meeting at Government House, Canberra. 


Management and accountability 

Strategic Planning Framework 

Figure 2: Strategic Planning Framework 

Portfolio Budget Statements 

Describe the allocation of resources to 

our Outcome and the means by which 

our performance will be measured 

Risk Management and 

Fraud Control Plans 

Identify and consider 

business and fraud risks 

and the controls in place 

to manage them 

Strategic Business Plan 

Sets directions for the Office to guide 

its work and enable it to meet priorities 

and allocate resources 

Branch Operational Plans 

Describe the business strategies which will 

deliver on the Office’s Outcome and allocate 

responsibility for delivering on these 

ICT Strategic Plan 

Provides guidance on future 

selection of information and 

communications technology 

and systems 

Individual Performance 

and Development Plans 

Record key deliverables and development 

outcomes for staff to deliver in support of 

Branch Operational Plans 

Strategic Business Plan 

The Office’s Strategic Business Plan is both a 

statement of its corporate vision, strategy and 

objectives and a traditional business plan. It aims 

to bring together planning and other strategic and 

operational activities and articulate the linkages 

between them. It is a five-year rolling plan, updated 

regularly, which distills the Office’s objectives into a 

high level action plan for the current year. 

Risk management framework 

The Office’s risk management framework comprises 

an overarching Risk Management Policy and Risk 

Management Plan. Individual risk assessments 

are completed for projects, events and other 

operational activities. 

The Office continued to participate in Comcover’s 

risk benchmarking program, which measures 

the effectiveness of agencies’ risk management 

frameworks, practices and systems against a set of 

key result areas. The Office’s result for 2010–11 was 

a score of 6.6 out of 10. This score is consistent with 

2009–10 results and is above the average for all 

fund members and for small agencies and reflects 

the Office’s high level of maturity and competence 

in this field. 

Fraud control framework 

The Office maintains a comprehensive Fraud Risk 

Assessment and Fraud Control Plan in accordance 

with the requirements of the Commonwealth 

Fraud Control Guidelines. The Office also maintains 

procedures and processes for the detection, 

investigation and reporting of fraud. An up-to-date 

Fraud Risk Assessment, Fraud Control Plan and 

Security Management policy and plan are in place 

and maintained. 

There were no known incidents of fraud in 2010–11. 


45


Security framework 

The Office continued to work closely with the 

Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian 

Federal Police to identify issues and receive advice 

on security, in order to effectively manage the 

physical security environments at Government 

House and Admiralty House. 

Audit activities 

In addition to the four Audit Committee members, 

representatives of the Australian National Audit 

Office (ANAO) and the Office’s internal audit 

contractors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, also attend 

committee meetings as observers. 

The Audit Committee met four times in 2010–11. 

Matters discussed included: 

• internal audit plan, activity and findings 

• new or updated administrative policy 

and procedures 

• self-assessment of the Office’s position in relation 

to recommendations made by the ANAO in 

completed administrative audits 

• the ANAO report on the Office’s 2009–10 

financial statements. 

In 2010–11, PricewaterhouseCoopers conducted 

the following reviews in accordance with the agreed 

audit program: 

• Procurement and Purchasing Audit 

• Review of Official Gifts 

• Delegations Audit. 

An additional audit was undertaken to determine 

the level of implementation of recommendations 

from the previous reviews undertaken by 

WalterTurnbull during 2008–09 and 2009–10. Spot 

checks of a range of general operating procedures 

and compliance were conducted, including petty 

cash processing, asset management, use of credit 

cards, travel requisitions, heritage management, 

accounts processing, purchasing, payroll, and Goods 

and Services Tax compliance. 

Business continuity 

The Office maintains a whole-of-Office Business 

Continuity Plan, which is supported by a number 

of individual business area plans. These plans are 

reviewed and updated regularly. 

Ethical standards 

Standards of appropriate behaviour for employees 

of the Office are set out in the Office’s Code of 

Conduct and Workplace Behaviours Policy, which were 

endorsed in the Enterprise Agreement 2011–2014, as 

well as in previous agreements. The Code of Conduct 

reflects the Australian Public Service Code of Conduct 

and Values as set out in the Public Service Act 1999. 

To ensure that staff are aware of the standards, the 

Enterprise Agreement is accessible on the Office’s 

intranet. New employees of the Office are required 

to sign a statement indicating that they have read 

and understood the Office’s Code of Conduct and 

Workplace Behaviours Policy. 

During the financial year, all staff attended in-house 

training on the standards of workplace behaviour 

and ethical conduct required by the Office, in 

accordance with its policy and guidelines relating 

to managing workplace behaviour. 

Financial management and accountability 

requirements for the Office are set out in the 

Chief Executive’s Instructions (CEIs), which are 

issued by the Official Secretary under the Financial 

Management and Accountability Act 1997. 

The CEIs are cross-referenced to relevant parts 

of the Act to ensure that authorised staff are 

fully aware of their legal obligations. The CEIs are 

available to all staff on the Office’s intranet and were 

re-issued on 1 July 2010. 

The Office’s procurement policy and guidelines 

establish clear standards of ethical behaviour for 

all staff responsible for procurement. 

External scrutiny 

In September 2011, the ANAO provided an 

unqualified audit opinion on the Office’s 2010–11 

financial statements. The Office was not the subject 

of any agency-specific audits by the Auditor-General’s 

Office, nor investigations or reviews by a parliamentary 

committee or the Commonwealth Ombudsman 

during 2010–11. 



Management of human resources 

Key achievements 

Key achievements and initiatives in the Office’s 

management of human resources during 

2010–11 included: 

• negotiation and implementation of the new 

Enterprise Agreement 2011–2014, with no 

delay following the expiry of the Collective 

Agreement 2008–11 

• delivery of ethics and workplace behaviours 

and cross cultural awareness training to staff 

• the selection of four trainees in the second 

intake of the Trainee Case Officer Program in the 

Honours and Awards Branch 

• further development of the human resources 

pages on the Office’s intranet, including an 

Indigenous Information link on the opening page, 

as a convenient point of reference for staff 

• the placement of an Indigenous apprentice 

gardener with assistance from an Indigenous 

employment service provider 

• continued development of the Health and 

Wellbeing Program including implementation 

of a sun protection policy for outdoor workers, 

influenza vaccinations and targeted health 

promotion activities 

• a successful year for the workplace giving 

program with several additional charities and 

organisations both in Australia and overseas 

supported financially by staff. 

The Governor-General presented several staff 

with 2011 Australia Day Achievement Medallions 

in recognition of their work toward achieving the 

Office’s objectives. Medallions were presented to: 

Ms Lorraine Walter for her commitment to the 

integrity of the Australian Honours system and her 

professional dealings with stakeholders and colleagues; 

and the Information Technology (IT) team comprising 

Mr Clement Tyhuis, Mr Evahn Derkley and Mr Steven 

Talbot for delivery of high quality IT services in a 

complex and dynamic operating environment. 

Senior executive remuneration 

The Office employed one senior executive service 

equivalent officer during the financial year; to 

avoid the disclosure of personal information, the 

remuneration level of this position has not been 

included. The remuneration of the Official Secretary 

is determined by the Remuneration Tribunal. 

The Governor-General, Mr Michael Bryce and the Official Secretary to the Governor-General, Mr Stephen Brady with the Office’s 

2011 Australia Day Award recipients, Ms Lorraine Walter (second from left), Mr Evahn Derkley (centre), Mr Clement Tyhuis (third 

from right), and Mr Steven Talbot (second from right). 


47


Remuneration arrangements 

The remuneration arrangements for staff are set out 

in the Enterprise Agreement 2011– 2014. One staff 

member’s remuneration was determined by the 

Remuneration Tribunal. At 30 June 2011, the current 

enterprise agreement covered 87 staff. Five staff 

were covered by Australian Workplace Agreements 

and five staff members were covered by Individual 

Flexibility Arrangements. The Office does not have 

performance-based pay arrangements. The salary 

ranges of employees by classification structure are 

set out in Appendix E. 

Staffing changes and statistics 

In 2010–11, the Average Staffing Level for the Office 

was 89.04. During the year there were 17 cessations 

through retirement, promotion or resignation and 

12 commencements. 

The Office’s staffing statistics, including information 

on gender, part-time and full-time employment and 

classification levels, as well as information provided 

in accordance with workplace diversity principles, 

are at Appendix E. 

Developing our staff 

The Office’s Performance Support Framework 

provides a vehicle for setting work priorities, 

assessing employee performance, providing 

feedback, and identifying training and development 

needs. To complement this, the Office has a 

learning and development framework to deliver 

opportunities aimed at improving staff skills and job 

knowledge and providing for personal growth. 

The Trainee Case Officer Program provides 

dynamic on-the-job training and development over 

a two-year period to prepare trainees for careers 

in the Office and the wider public sector. Trainees 

are rotated through all aspects of the work of the 

Honours and Awards Branch, from research to 

administration, thus gaining valuable knowledge 

and experience whilst also being a flexible 

resource for the Branch. Mentoring and guidance 

are continuously provided by junior and senior 

colleagues alike. 

Training opportunities provided to staff in 2010–11 

included a variety of in-house and external courses 

on leadership development, cross cultural awareness, 

fraud and risk awareness, information technology 

security, ethics and workplace behaviours, writing 

skills, communication skills, presentation skills, 

induction procedures, fire safety, manual handling 

and first aid. 

Traineeships, apprenticeships 

and work experience 

As a small organisation with multiple and 

varied workgroups, the Office was able to offer 

several traineeships, apprenticeships and work 

experience placements based on horticulture and 

administration. Additionally, two participants in the 

Australian School-based Apprenticeship (ASBA) 

program worked part-time in the Office’s gardening 

and corporate workgroups. 

The Office worked closely with Habitat Personnel, 

an Indigenous employment service contracted by 

the Department of Employment, Education and 

Workplace Relations, to provide mentoring to an 

Indigenous gardening apprentice and cross-cultural 

awareness training to all other staff. Habitat also 

gave practical assistance to the staff member, 

supplementing the Office’s own efforts toward 

successful induction, on-the-job training and positive 

workplace relations. 



Kerry Cox, 

Manager Human Resources 

Kerry Cox loves her busy and varied job as 

Manager Human Resources. ‘We are a small 

agency with a diverse range of employees, 

and the Office’s HR unit has to deal with everything 

from recruitment and payroll to training and 

succession planning’, Kerry says. 

The Office’s wide ranging responsibilities for 

supporting the Governor-General in all her duties, 

looking after two heritage properties and the viceregal 

household, and administering the Australian 

honours system, are reflected in its compact but 

varied workforce. There are qualified chefs and 

gardeners, IT experts and accountants, journalists, 

researchers, logistics experts and policy advisers. 

‘While some staff perform desk jobs with routine 

hours, others have schedules that are dictated by 

the Governor-General’s program, especially when 

she is attending or hosting functions, or travelling. 

We value and encourage flexibility and a “can do” 

spirit, and we are committed to supporting all our 

staff, not least through tailored occupational health 

and safety programs’, says Kerry. 

In recent years, these qualities have been 

exemplified in the Office’s use of taskforces for 

major events and projects. According to Kerry, staff 

who participate in such extracurricular work come 

away with a fresh sense of purpose and enthusiasm 

about the Office’s capacity to make a difference in 

the broader Australian community. 

A key achievement for Kerry in 2010–11 was 

the successful negotiation of a new three-year 

Enterprise Agreement. Kerry was impressed by the 

efficiency of the process, which resulted from staff 

and management working cooperatively together. 

The Human Resources unit runs a dynamic training 

program. For example, staff undertake ethics 

and behaviours training annually, and the course, 

presented by the HR team, is customised to the 

Office’s operations. ‘Recently, a large percentage of 

staff attended a cross cultural awareness session 

given by an Indigenous employment agency and 

the feedback was fantastic’, Kerry says. The training 

coincided with the Office’s employment of a new 

Indigenous gardening apprentice. 


49


Occupational health and 

safety overview 

Occupational health and safety 

structure and oversight 

The Office is committed to providing and maintaining 

a healthy and safe working environment for all staff, 

contractors and visitors to the Office. The Office’s 

commitment to occupational health and safety 

(OHS) includes a cyclical review of the Office health 

and safety management arrangements (HSMA). 

Health and safety management 

arrangements 

The Office’s HSMA incorporates the responsibilities 

and strategies set out below and defined in relevant 

policies and guidelines: 

• commitment by management to health and safety 

in the workplace is demonstrated through setting 

of goals and objectives for health and safety 

• OHS Policy is in place and reviewed periodically 

• Health and Safety Committee (HSC) has 

been established 

• Health and Safety Representatives have 

been elected 

• OHS matters are promoted and discussed 

through effective consultation, communication 

and cooperation with staff in the workplace 

• a system is in place for risk and hazard 

identification, assessment and control procedures 

including a hazard register. 

Initiatives that ensure the health, 

safety and welfare at work of 

employees and contractors 

• OHS policy and hazard and incident report 

forms are available on the Office intranet; all 

incidents are investigated and appropriate action 

taken; reports are presented at HSC meetings 

• Employee and workplace health monitoring 

procedures include the provision of personal 

protective equipment, workplace assessments are 

conducted for all staff on commencement and 

regular inspections of the grounds and property 

are undertaken 

• work practice guides for screen-based equipment, 

hazardous chemicals and manual handling are 

available on the Office intranet 

• OHS is included in induction training for new staff 

• a sun protection policy for outdoor workers has 

been implemented 

• winter wellness packs have been distributed 

to all staff. 

Health and safety outcomes 

achieved as a result of initiatives 

• emergency training is conducted for all staff 

• external safety lighting has been upgraded 

• annual testing and tagging of all electrical 

equipment has been completed 

• safety signage for first aid and fire extinguishers 

has been upgraded 

• first aid kits have been restocked 

• staff consultation contributed to formulation of 

sun protection policy 

• first aid training and manual handling training was 

conducted for relevant staff. 

Key OHS statistics can be found at Appendix F. 

Organisational review, 

development and innovation 

Throughout 2010–11, the Office continued to 

investigate and test its structures and settings to 

ensure productivity gains and resource savings were 

maximised, including through: 

• conducting an independent study of honours and 

awards review mechanisms. The study supported 

existing policy settings and encouraged further 

administrative efficiencies 

• reviewing honours and awards systems 

and processes, identifying more than 70 

recommendations for streamlining and efficiency. 

The Management Committee agreed that the 

recommendations should be implemented in three 

phases, based on risk management considerations 

• integrating Blackberry infrastructure into the 

Office’s IT network. This initiative has increased 

connectivity and availability of information 

resources for senior staff and key operational 

officers working away from the Office’s ICT 

infrastructure. This has resulted in a significant 

increase in productivity 



• establishing a business hub at Admiralty House, to 

provide staff from Government House working 

temporarily in Sydney with access to computer 

workstations, office equipment and meeting 

facilities during peak periods. With limited 

available office space, this cost-effective project 

maximised the existing infrastructure by refitting 

an under-utilised building 

• reviewing the roles, responsibilities and structure 

of the Admiralty House team, reassigning 

responsibilities, and creating a Property 

Coordinator function 

• reviewing and restructuring the Corporate 

Services Branch to streamline functions and 

maximise resource flexibility. Sections reviewed 

in this process were Human Resources, 

Governance, Property & Services, Project 

Management and Transport 

• upgrading the website, including new segments 

on presentation of credentials, Information 

Publication Scheme, and a revised contact form, 

among other enhancements 

• publishing copies of booklets on the Order of 

Australia, Australian Bravery Decorations, Gallantry 

Decorations, Meritorious Service Awards and 

Conspicuous Service Decorations on the Office’s 

website to make them readily available to the 

general public. These publications include the 

regulations and determinations governing each 

award, as well as the Constitution and related 

Ordinances for the Order of Australia 

• moving to electronic advice to media outlets 

on recipients prior to the announcement of 

the Australia Day and The Queen’s Birthday 

honours lists 

• implementing an Indigenous Employment 

Strategy, conducting cross-cultural awareness 

training for all employees, and engaging an 

Indigenous apprentice in horticulture 

• continuing to draw on whole-of-agency 

resources, task forces and working groups to 

support major events, internal reviews and 

recruitment centres 

• completing stage one of a planned move of 

the HRMIS from a commercial provider to a 

portfolio agency 

• procuring a zero emissions solar-powered electric 

multi-purpose vehicle to improve access to the 

54 hectares of Government House grounds for 

elderly, disabled and other visitors 

• following a review of wine cellar management and 

stock control, identified a number of premium 

wines that were excess to requirements and gifting 

these to charities in every state and territory of 

Australia for use in community fundraising 

• continuing to make Government House as 

family-friendly as possible for occasions such as 

investitures when children are present 

• achieving energy efficiency and other 

environmental savings in relation to water 

consumption and electricity usage. 

In additional to the innovations above, the Office 

has continued to achieve significant savings in 

departmental and supplier expenses whilst at the 

same time supporting increased operational tempo. 

Primary school students enjoying the Governor-General’s children’s Christmas party at Admiralty House, Sydney on 29 November 2010. 


51


Management of assets and financial processes 

Asset management 

In 2010–11, the Office received funding for the sixth 

year of the Vice-Regal Heritage Property Master 

Plan to improve the condition of the two vice-regal 

properties. The Government’s commitment to 

this ten-year works program enables the Office to 

address deficiencies in building, plant and equipment 

assets that have deteriorated or reached the end 

of their life cycles; are inappropriate or inadequate 

for their purpose; do not comply with Australian 

Standards; have adverse environmental impacts; or 

create OHS concerns. 

The implementation of the Master Plan helps to 

ensure the heritage properties are appropriately 

developed and maintained for the benefit of all 

Australians now and into the future. Further 

information is provided under Property 

management. 

In 2010–11, the Office continued with planned 

cyclical stocktakes, in accordance with its asset 

management policy. 

In 2010–11, a total of $442,805 was spent on 

items of infrastructure, plant and equipment, and 

computer software that had an individual value 

greater than the Office’s asset threshold of $3,000. 

This comprised $395,272 for replacement of other 

infrastructure, plant and equipment and $47,533 

for computer software. 

In compliance with the Finance Minister’s 

Orders issued by the Department of Finance 

and Deregulation, and the Australian Accounting 

Standards, the Australian Valuation Office was 

engaged to revalue assets other than the heritage 

properties and precincts in 2009–10. No revaluations 

were conducted in 2010–11. 

Purchasing 

The Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines (CPGs) 

and the Office’s CEIs provide the framework within 

which decisions about the procurement of goods 

and services are made. The CPGs provide for the 

tendering of ‘covered’ procurements with a value 

greater than $80,000 and of construction services 

valued at more than $9 million. The Office’s CEIs 

allow for the adoption of the most appropriate 

procurement method below these thresholds or 

where the procurement is not classified by the 

CPGs as a ‘covered’ procurement. 

In line with this framework, the Office also balances 

the need for open and effective competition with 

the need to use procurement methods that are 

cost effective and efficient. Value for money is 

always a primary consideration when selecting 

consultants. The Office receives advice from the 

Official Establishments Trust in relation to the choice 

of appropriately qualified consultants to provide 

professional services for the conservation and 

development of its heritage buildings and grounds. 

Purchasing activities during the year were conducted 

in accordance with the CPGs and the Office’s 

CEIs. A range of positions within the Office have 

delegated responsibility for the exercise of powers 

under the FMA Act. Branch heads continue to be 

responsible for the expenditure of funds and the 

management of assets under their control. 

The Office has ongoing contracts to provide a 

variety of contractor services, including internal 

audit, banking, payroll, office cleaning, and property 

maintenance and minor works. 

The Office’s annual procurement plan for 2010–11 

was published on AusTender on 30 June 2010. 

Consultants 

The Office engages consultants on an ad hoc basis 

to provide professional and specialist services 

for building works and architectural services, 

administrative projects, information technology 

support and systems development, and to facilitate 

organisational change and management reforms 

where the Office does not have the required skills 

or there is a need for independent research. 

During 2010–11, the Office entered into new 

consultancy contracts with nine companies, involving 

total actual expenditure of $115,347 (including GST). 

Details of new consultancy contracts awarded in 

2010–11 with a value of $10,000 or more are 

provided in Appendix G. Details of contracts 

awarded with a value greater than $100,000 are 

shown on the Office’s website (www.gg.gov.au), in 

accordance with guidelines issued by the Department 

of Finance and Deregulation. 



Legal services expenditure 

In accordance with the requirements of the Legal 

Services Directions 2005, the Office reports 

that total expenditure on external legal services 

in 2010–11 was $67,124 (including GST). All 

expenditure incurred was for solicitors’ fees. 

Competitive tendering and 

contracting 

During the reporting year, the Office did not 

contract to another organisation the delivery of any 

program activities it had previously performed. 

Australian National Audit 

Office access clauses 

The Office did not enter into any contract of 

$100,000 or more (including GST) during 2010–11 

that does not provide for the Auditor-General to 

have access to the contractor’s premises. 

Exempt contracts 

The Official Secretary did not exempt any contract 

or standing offer in excess of $10,000 from being 

published in AusTender on the basis that it would 

disclose exempt matters under the Freedom of 

Information Act 1982. 

Advertising and 

market research 

The Office did not undertake any advertising 

campaigns or market research during 2010–11. 

Discretionary grants 

The Office neither made nor administered any 

discretionary grants during the financial year. 

Information technology 

The Office continued to improve the security, 

reliability and functionality of its ICT infrastructure 

through a range of initiatives in 2010–11: 

• integrated a Blackberry infrastructure into the 

Office’s IT network 

• introduced a business hub at Admiralty House, 

comprising computer workstations, office 

equipment and meeting facilities 

• improved the security and stability of the 

remote access system with assistance from the 

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, 

which has enabled staff to work remotely in a 

secure manner 

• upgraded other commodity IT equipment 

including workstations, laptops, mobile devices 

and major office machines. 

As an FMA agency, the Office participated in and 

benefited from a range of the Federal Government’s 

whole-of-government initiatives, including coordinated 

telecommunications services, software 

and hardware procurement. 

Changes to disability 

reporting in annual 

reports 

Since 1994, Commonwealth departments and 

agencies have reported on their performance as 

policy adviser, purchaser, employer, regulator and 

provider under the Commonwealth Disability 

Strategy. In 2007-08, reporting on the employer 

role was transferred to the Australian Public 

Service Commission’s State of the Service Report 

and the APS Statistical Bulletin. These reports are 

available at www.apsc.gov.au. From 2010–11, 

departments and agencies are no longer required 

to report on these functions. 

The Commonwealth Disability Strategy has been 

overtaken by a new National Disability Strategy 

which sets out a ten year national policy framework 

for improving life for Australians with disability, their 

families and carers. A high level report to track 

progress for people with a disability at a national 

level will be produced by the Standing Council on 

Community, Housing and Disability Services to the 

Council of Australian Governments and will be 

available at www.fahcsia.gov.au. The Social Inclusion 

Measurement and Reporting Strategy agreed by the 

Government in December 2009 will also include 

some reporting on disability matters in its regular 

How Australia is Faring report and, if appropriate, 

in strategic change indicators in agency Annual 

Reports. More detail on social inclusion matters 

can be found at www.socialinclusion.gov.au. 


53


Freedom of information 

Section 8 of the Freedom of Information Act 

1982 (FOI Act) as it existed prior to May 2011 

required each Australian Government agency to 

publish information about the way it is organised, 

its functions and powers, and arrangements for 

public participation in its work. This information is 

published in the Annual Report. 

From 1 May 2011, agencies subject to the FOI Act 

are required to publish information to the public as 

part of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS). 

This requirement is in Part II of the FOI Act and 

has replaced the former requirement to publish a 

section 8 statement in an annual report. The Office’s 

plan showing what information is published in 

accordance with the IPS requirements is available on 

its website: www.gg.gov.au. 

Organisation, function and 

powers affecting the public 

The Office’s organisational chart and functions 

are detailed in Chapter 1 of this report and on its 

website, where a series of links appear in the section 

on the IPS. 

The Official Secretary is the principal decision 

maker under section 23 of the FOI Act in respect 

of requests for access. 

FOI procedures and initial 

contact point 

The FOI Act applies to the Office because it is 

a body established for a public purpose by an 

enactment and, therefore, is a “prescribed authority” 

as defined in section 4. However, Section 6A of the 

FOI Act provides: 

6A Official Secretary to the Governor-General 

1. This Act does not apply to any request for 

access to a document of the Official Secretary 

to the Governor-General unless the document 

relates to matters of an administrative nature. 

2. For the purposes of this Act, a document in 

the possession of a person employed under 

section 13 of the Governor-General Act 1974 

that is in his or her possession by reason of his 

or her employment under that section shall 

be taken to be in possession of the Official 

Secretary to the Governor-General. 

The Act thus has a restricted application to the 

Office, being relevant only in respect of requests 

for access to documents that relate to ‘matters of 

an administrative nature’. Implicitly, the Act does 

not apply to requests for access to documents 

that relate to the Governor-General’s discharge 

of official functions conferred by the Constitution 

or an enactment. 

People seeking access to documents relating 

to ‘matters of an administrative nature’ in the 

possession of the Official Secretary should apply 

in writing to: 

The Official Secretary to the Governor-General 


Canberra ACT 2600 

Facsimile: (02) 6260 5967 

Initial enquiries may be directed to the Office’s FOI 

Contact Officer on telephone (02) 6283 3514. 

Charges 

The Office’s policy on levying charges under FOI 

regulations is that, where applicable, charges should 

be imposed for processing FOI requests. However, 

charges may be reduced or not imposed if the 

Official Secretary is satisfied that a relevant reason 

to do so exists. If access is approved, the Official 

Secretary will provide copies of documents after the 

Office receives payment of any charges that apply. 

FOI Applications in 2010–11 

During 2010–11, eight FOI requests were received 

for documents relating to the operations of the 

Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor- 

General. Of these, two were refused under 

section 6A of the Act; one was partially granted; two 

were answered outside the provisions of the Act; 

and three were transferred to other agencies. 



Ecologically sustainable development and 

environmental protection 

This report is made in accordance with section 

516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity 

Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). 

The Office does not administer externally focused 

legislation, undertake policy development or deliver 

external policy programs which have a notable 

ecologically sustainable development (ESD) impact, 

other than its stewardship of the vice-regal properties. 

Operational activities 

The Office follows the principles of ESD in its 

stewardship of the official properties. 

Government House and Admiralty House were 

included in the Commonwealth Heritage List in June 

2004 as places of significant heritage value owned 

or controlled by the Commonwealth. Their inclusion 

in the list places obligations on the Office to protect 

the heritage value of the properties. 

In accordance with the EPBC Act, the Office has 

prepared and regularly reviews a Heritage Strategy 

to provide guidance on how it should manage the 

two properties. 

The Office maintains detailed Heritage Management 

Plans, which meet the EPBC Act requirements, 

and conservation management plans for the 

residences and associated landscapes. The Office 

uses the services of heritage architects and heritage 

landscape architects to assist with the maintenance 

and development of the properties, and also takes 

advice from the Official Establishments Trust. 

Environmental initiatives 

The Office consolidated its environmental 

performance in all areas of operations from 

gardening practices to office supplies. New 

environmental improvement projects included: 

• replacing moribund vegetation on the lakeside 

bank of Government House with a droughthardy 

species to stabilise the bank and minimise 

soil erosion 

• installing energy-efficient LED lighting along 

external walkways. 

In addition to these initiatives, the Office purchased 

an electric multi-purpose vehicle that will be used to 

transport disabled and elderly visitors around the 54 

hectares of grounds at Government House during 

functions and open days. The vehicle is also used 

to move goods and equipment between over 20 

buildings on the site in an energy efficient way. The 

vehicle is powered by a rooftop photovoltaic solar 

panel and has a re-chargeable battery. 

The Office made occasional donations of excess 

food to OzHarvest. 

The Office is strongly committed to reducing carbon 

pollution by improving the energy efficiency of 

buildings at both properties. Following the installation 

of a more efficient heating system at Government 

House in 2009–10, gas consumption decreased by 

7.7 per cent in 2010–11. Electricity usage decreased 

by 7.2 per cent at Government House and 5 per 

cent at Admiralty House, and the Office purchased 

10 per cent of its electricity from green sources. 

In 2010–11, Admiralty House significantly reduced 

water consumption by 28.1% on the previous year. 

Government House reduced water consumption 

by 6.33%. 


55

Appendices

The Governor-General launching the Australian Campaign for Wool at Admiralty House, Sydney on 29 March 2011. 


Appendices 

Appendix A: The Council for the Order of Australia 

and the Australian Bravery Decorations Council 

The Order of Australia 

as at 30 June 2011 

The Order of Australia was established as part of the 

Australian honours system by Letters Patent signed 

by Her Majesty The Queen on 14 February 1975. 

Chancellor of the Order 

Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC 

Governor-General of the Commonwealth 

of Australia 

Secretary of the Order 

Mr Stephen Brady 

Official Secretary to the Governor-General 

Council for the Order of Australia 

Members – nominated by the Australian Government 

Professor John Hay AC (Chair) 

Dr Lyndsay Connors AM 

Professor Andrea Hull AO 

Professor John Shine AO 

Brigadier Bill Rolfe AO (Ret.) 

Dr Patricia Miller AO 

Ms Naomi Milgrom AO 

His Honour Judge Rauf Soulio 

Members – nominated by State and 

Territory governments 

Mr Brendan O’Reilly AM (New South Wales) 

Mr Charles Curwen CVO OBE (Victoria) 

Mr Patrick Vidgen (Queensland) 

Mr Greg Mackie OAM (South Australia) 

Mr Malcolm Wauchope (Western Australia) 

Mr Rhys Edwards (Tasmania) 

Ms Teresa Hart (Northern Territory) 

Mr Andrew Cappie-Wood (Australian 

Capital Territory) 

Members – ex-officio 

The Honourable Robert McClelland MP 

Vice-President of the Federal Executive Council 

Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston AC AFC 

Chief of the Defence Force 

Mr Duncan Lewis AO DSC CSC 

Associate Secretary, National Security and 

International Policy 

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 

Australian Bravery Decorations 

as at 30 June 2011 

The Australian Bravery Decorations were 

established as part of the Australian honours system 

by Letters Patent signed by Her Majesty The Queen 

on 14 February 1975. 

Secretary 

Mr Stephen Brady 

Official Secretary to the Governor-General 

Australian Bravery Decorations Council 

Members – nominated by the Australian Government 

Vacant (Chair) 

Ms Christine Nixon APM 

Vacant 

Vacant 

Members – nominated by State and Territory 

governments 

Mr John Trevillian AM (New South Wales) 

Mr Gavin Rossetti (Victoria) 

Mr Patrick Vidgen (Queensland) 

Colonel Bill Denny AM (Ret.) (South Australia) 

Ms Peta Arbuckle (Western Australia) 

Ms Fiona Birkett MVO (Tasmania) 

Mr David Blenheim (Northern Territory) 

Mr Mark Crosweller AFSM (Australian 

Capital Territory) 

Members – ex officio 

Dr Ian Watt AO 

Secretary, Department of Defence 

Mr Peter Rush 

Assistant Secretary, Awards and Culture Branch 

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 


59

Appendix B: Order of Australia Awards 

Table B1: The Order of Australia Awards (General Division) Australia Day 

2011 and The Queen’s Birthday 2011 

AWARDS LEVELS 

CATEGORY 

NUMBER OF 

NOMINATIONS 

CONSIDERED 

TOTAL 

AWARDED 

% 

AWARDED 

AC AO AM OAM 

Architecture M 6 4 66.7% - 1 3 - 

F - - N/A - - - - 

The Arts M 39 31 79.5% - 2 15 14 

F 28 21 75.0% - - 5 16 

Building & M 6 3 50.0% - - 2 1 

Construction 

F - - N/A - - - - 

Business & M 29 12 41.4% - 3 8 1 

Commerce 

F 6 2 33.3% - - 1 1 

Community & M 25 11 44.0% - 1 1 9 

Migrant Assistance 

F 15 10 66.7% - - 2 8 

Community M 450 218 48.4% - - 19 199 

F 246 144 58.5% - 2 8 134 

Conservation M 22 13 59.1% - - 3 10 

F 17 13 76.5% - 1 4 8 

Dentistry M 6 4 66.7% - - 3 1 

F - - N/A - - - - 

Disabled M 14 4 28.6% - - 2 2 

F 12 7 58.3% - - 1 6 

Education M 42 21 50.0% - 3 9 9 

F 26 6 23.1% - 1 4 1 

Engineering M 5 4 80.0% - - 4 - 

F - - N/A - - - - 

Industrial Relations M 5 4 80.0% - - 1 3 

F 1 1 100.0% - - 1 - 

Information M 2 1 50.0% - - 1 - 

Technology 

F 2 2 100.0% - - 1 1 

International M 5 3 60.0% - - 1 2 

Relations 

F 8 6 75.0% - - - 6 

Law M 24 10 41.7% - 4 4 2 

F 6 4 66.7% 1 1 1 1 


Appendices 

Table B1 Cont. 

Library & Related M 4 4 100.0% - - - 4 

Occupations 

F 1 1 100.0% - - - 1 

Local Government M 22 14 63.6% - - 3 11 

F 6 4 66.7% - - - 4 

Media & 

M 10 5 50.0% - 1 2 2 


F 3 2 66.7% - - 2 - 

Medicine M 101 60 59.4% - 5 27 28 

F 30 20 66.7% - - 7 13 

Mining M 3 2 66.7% - - 2 - 

F 1 - 0.0% - - - - 

Parliament & M 18 11 61.1% 1 2 6 2 

Politics 

F 4 3 75.0% - 1 2 - 

Primary Industries M 26 21 80.8% - - 6 15 

F 3 2 66.7% - - - 2 

Public Service M 12 4 33.3% - 3 1 - 

F 2 2 100.0% 1 1 - - 

Religion M 18 10 55.6% - - 1 9 

F 5 4 80.0% - - - 4 

Science, 

M 13 5 38.5% - 1 3 1 

Technological 

Developments, 

F 3 3 100.0% - - 1 2 

R&D 

Sport & Leisure M 95 51 53.7% - - 1 50 

F 24 12 50.0% - - - 12 

Surveying and M 3 3 100.0% - - - 3 

Mapping 

F - - N/A - - - - 

Tourism M 10 6 60.0% - - - 6 

F 2 1 50.0% - - - 1 

Transport M 9 4 44.4% - - 1 3 

F 1 1 100.0% - - - 1 

Veterinary Science M 4 1 25.0% - - - 1 

F 1 1 100.0% - 1 - - 

TOTAL M 1,028 544 52.9% 1 26 129 388 

F 453 272 60.0% 2 8 40 222 

1,481 816 55.1% 3 34 169 610 

AC = Companion of the Order of Australia; AO = Officer of the Order of Australia; AM = Member of the Order of Australia; OAM = Medal 

of the Order of Australia 


61

Table B2: The Order of Australia Awards (General Division), The Queen’s 

Birthday 1975 to The Queen’s Birthday 2011 

CATEGORY 

NUMBER OF 

NOMINATIONS 

CONSIDERED 

TOTAL 

AWARDED 

% 

AWARDED 

AWARD LEVELS 

AK AD AC AO AM OAM 

Architecture M 206 122 59.2% - - 2 23 76 21 

F 14 8 57.1% - - - - 5 3 

The Arts M 1,469 856 58.3% - - 20 108 355 373 

F 928 568 61.2% - 1 10 42 174 341 

Building & M 165 94 57.0% - - 2 8 53 31 

Construction 

F 3 2 66.7% - - - - 2 - 

Business & M 1,795 973 54.2% 2 - 38 201 503 229 

Commerce 

F 137 82 59.9% - - 3 14 41 24 

Community M 1,101 500 45.4% - - - 16 79 405 

& Migrant 

Assistance 

F 337 198 58.8% - - - - 19 179 

Community M 14,905 6,720 45.1% - - 30 146 944 5,600 

F 8,113 4,353 53.7% - - 12 98 532 3,711 

Conservation M 549 362 65.9% - - - 21 122 219 

F 253 158 62.5% - - - 12 39 107 

Dentistry M 210 113 53.8% - - - 9 65 39 

F 11 7 63.6% - - - - 3 4 

Disabled M 560 332 59.3% - - - 3 88 241 

F 578 370 64.0% - - - 3 61 306 

Education M 1,531 829 54.1% 1 - 20 130 366 312 

F 720 422 58.6% - - 5 30 164 223 

Engineering M 281 170 60.5% - - 3 32 103 32 

F 3 3 100.0% - - - 1 2 - 

Industrial M 330 210 63.6% - - 5 20 103 82 

Relations 

F 20 17 85.0% - - - 2 7 8 

Information M 19 12 63.2% - - - 3 8 1 

Technology 

F 7 5 71.4% - - - 1 3 1 

International M 279 126 45.2% - - 2 17 59 48 

Relations 

F 149 92 61.7% - - 2 11 37 42 

Law M 582 320 55.0% 1 - 43 101 133 42 

F 71 44 62.0% - - 5 12 20 7 

Library M 29 16 55.2% - - - 2 6 8 

Services 

F 41 26 63.4% - - - 1 9 16 


Appendices 

Table B2 Cont. 

Local 

Government 

M 1,503 722 48.0% - - - 6 152 564 

F 228 124 54.4% - - - 3 27 94 

Media & M 522 263 50.4% - - 5 25 114 119 


F 84 43 51.2% - - - 9 19 15 

Medicine M 2,663 1,325 49.8% - - 28 218 657 422 

F 926 557 60.2% - - 9 48 214 286 

Mining M 119 72 60.5% - - 4 19 35 14 

F 3 1 33.3% - - - - 1 - 

Parliament & M 477 256 53.7% 2 - 32 84 97 41 

Politics 

F 62 31 50.0% - 1 - 10 13 7 

Primary M 1,020 633 62.1% - - 1 40 264 328 

Industries 

F 51 39 76.5% - - - 2 9 28 

Public Service M 1,532 839 54.8% 5 - 55 223 325 231 

F 242 120 49.6% - - 6 11 33 70 

Religion M 550 297 54.0% - - 5 19 96 177 

F 60 36 60.0% - - - 1 7 28 

Science, M 620 354 57.1% 1 - 18 95 182 58 

Technological 

Developments, 

F 73 55 75.3% - - 4 16 24 11 

R&D 

Sport & M 2,945 1,626 55.2% - - 3 30 258 1335 

Leisure 

F 804 523 65.0% - - - 4 51 468 

Surveying and M 27 16 59.3% - - - - 6 10 

Mapping 

F - - N/A - - - - - - 

Tourism M 169 95 56.2% - - - 8 34 53 

F 29 15 51.7% - - - - 4 11 

Transport M 355 156 43.9% - - 3 18 63 72 

F 18 11 61.1% - - - 2 2 7 

Veterinary M 89 55 61.8% - - - 7 24 24 

Science 

F 9 7 77.8% - - - 1 1 5 

TOTAL M 36,602 18,464 50.4% 12 0 319 1,682 5,370 11,131 

F 13,974 7,917 56.7% 0 2 56 334 1,523 6,002 

50,576 26,381 52.2% 12 2 375 2,016 6,893 17,133 

AK = Knight of the Order of Australia; AD = Dame of the Order of Australia; AC = Companion of the Order of Australia; AO = Officer of the Order 

of Australia; AM = Member of the Order of Australia; OAM = Medal of the Order of Australia 

Note: Anomalies may occur when comparing to previous years, possibly due to the deferal of promulgation, terminations, cancellations or resignations 

from the Order of Australia 


63

Appendix C: Australian Bravery Decorations 

Table C1: Australian Bravery Decorations 2010–11 

CATEGORY 

NUMBER OF 

NOMINATIONS 

CONSIDERED 

TOTAL 

AWARDED 

% 

AWARDED 

AWARD LEVELS 

CV SC BM CBC GBC 

Interception of 

22 11 50% - 1 2 5 1(3)* 

armed offender 

Rescue from 

9 6 67% - - 6 - 

animal attack 

Rescue from 

11 6 55% - - 2 4 - 


Rescue from 

1 1 100% - - - 1 - 

electrical hazard 

Rescue from 

18 12 67% - - - 7 1(5)* 

explosive hazard 

Rescue from 

4 2 50% - - - 2 - 

fire - aircraft 

Rescue from 

54 27 50% - - 5 9 2(13)* 

fire - building 

Rescue from 

4 1 25% - - 1 - - 

fire - bushfire 

Rescue from fire - 

28 12 43% - - 2 10 - 

motor vehicle 

Rescue from 

7 2 29% - - 1 1 - 

fire - other 

Rescue from gases, 

2 2 100% - - - 2 - 

toxic fumes etc. 

Rescue from 

- - N/A - - - - - 

heights, cliffs 

Rescue from holes, 

11 - 0% - - - - - 

wells or mines 

Rescue from 

43 26 60% - - 6 10 2(10)* 

inland waters 

Rescue from 

53 9 17% - - - 4 1(5)* 

other situation 

Rescue from path 

11 - 0% - - - - - 

of oncoming vehicle 

Rescue from 

2 - 0% - - - - - 

water – other 

Rescue from 

54 28 52% - - 5 20 1(3)* 

water – sea 

Rescue from water - 

6 4 67% - - - 4 - 

submerged vehicle 

TOTAL 340 149 44% - 1 24 85 8(39)* 

CV = Cross of Valour; SC = Star of Courage; BM = Bravery Medal; CBC = Commendation for Brave Conduct; 

GBC = Group Bravery Citation 

* The number in brackets represents individual recipients in group citations 


Appendices 

Table C2: Bravery decorations conferred from 1975 to 30 June 2011 

CATEGORY 

NUMBER OF 

NOMINATIONS 

CONSIDERED 

TOTAL 

AWARDED 

% 

AWARDED 

AWARD LEVELS 

CV SC BM CBC GBC 

Interception of 

646 309 48% 1 10 99 183 3(16) * 


Rescue from 

144 77 53% - 12 32 33 - 

animal attack 

Rescue from 

815 472 58% - 35 171 175 13 (91)* 


Rescue from 

83 37 45% 1 1 13 22 - 

electrical hazard 

Rescue from 

246 161 65% 2 12 48 51 4(48)* 

explosive hazard 

Rescue from 

62 30 48% - 1 22 7 - 

fire - aircraft 

Rescue from 

1,092 496 45% - 13 161 292 4(30)* 

fire - building 

Rescue from 

430 82 19% - 1 9 29 2 (43)* 

fire - bushfire 

Rescue from 

597 375 63% - 20 131 207 2 (17)* 

fire - motor vehicle 

Rescue from 

94 64 68% - 7 23 11 1 (23)* 

fire - other 

Rescue from gases, 

34 26 76% - 2 16 8 - 

toxic fumes etc. 

Rescue from 

157 66 42% - 3 21 29 3 (13)* 

heights, cliffs 

Rescue from holes, 

145 82 57% 1 2 21 14 4 (44)* 

wells or mines 

Rescue from 

651 254 39% - 1 63 145 7(45)* 

inland waters 

Rescue from 

538 123 23% - 2 32 67 6(22)* 

other situation 

Rescue from path 

77 36 47% - 1 17 18 - 

of oncoming vehicle 

Rescue from 

43 8 19% - - 1 7 - 

water - other 

Rescue from 

1,243 519 42% - 17 137 277 23(88)* 

water - sea 

Rescue from water 

114 57 50% - - 8 32 2 (17)* 

- submerged vehicle 

TOTAL 7,211 3,274 45% 5 140 1,025 1,607 74(497)* 

CV = Cross of Valour; SC = Star of Courage; BM = Bravery Medal; CBC = Commendation for Brave Conduct; GBC = Group Bravery Citation 

* The number in brackets represents individual recipients in group citations 

Note: Anomalies may occur when comparing with previous years, possibly due to the deferral of promulgation 


65

Appendix D: Defence, Meritorious and Long 

Service Awards 

Table D1: Defence, Meritorious and Long Service Awards approved during 

2010–11 and total awards approved 

Award 

Awards approved 

2010–2011 

Total awards 

approved to 

30 June 2011 

Victoria Cross for Australia 1 2 

Companion of the Order of Australia (Military Division) 1 25 

Officer of the Order of Australia (Military Division) 3 241 

Member of the Order of Australia (Military Division) 26 1,050 

Medal of the Order of Australia (Military Division) 17 1,106 

Star of Gallantry 2 5 

Medal for Gallantry 3 50 

Commendation for Gallantry 6 32 

Unit Citation for Gallantry - 3 

Distinguished Service Cross 4 56 

Distinguished Service Medal 13 107 

Commendations for Distinguished Service 18 290 

Meritorious Unit Citation 1 22 

Conspicuous Service Cross 42 776 

Conspicuous Service Medal 43 891 

Nursing Service Cross - 29 

Public Service Medal 96 1,846 

Australian Police Medal 65 1,381 

Australian Fire Service Medal 59 1,037 

Ambulance Service Medal 26 234 

Emergency Services Medal 26 306 

Australian Antarctic Medal 2 85 

Civilian Service Medal 1939-1945 26 6,872 

Police Overseas Service Medal 216 4,404 

Humanitarian Overseas Service Medal 32 2,024 

Champion Shots Medal 2 55 

National Medal 6,460 181,703 

80th Anniversary Armistice Remembrance Medal - 71 

Australian Sports Medal - 18,000 

Centenary Medal 1 15,842 

TOTAL AWARDS 7,191 238,545 

Notes: 372,956 awards in other categories were approved between 1975 and 30 June 2004, bringing the total number of awards 

approved to 611,501. Due to a change in administration arrangements these awards are no longer processed by the Secretariat 

There may be some anomalies when comparing with previous years due to corrections relating to people previously unaccounted 

for, and amendments in the number of people entitled to the awards 


Appendices 

Appendix E: Staffing overview 

Table E1 provides information on the salary ranges available under the Office’s Enterprise Agreement 

or through an individual Australian workplace agreement or common law contract as at 30 June 2011. 

Table E1: Salary range by classification at 30 June 2011 

Classification 

Government House Officer 

Salary range 

Level 1 $40,099 – 49,358 

Level 2 $45,988 – 53,886 

Level 3 $51,993 – 62,924 

Level 4 $58,770 –63,788 

Level 5 $65,552 – 69,491 

Level 6 $70,801 – 81,278 

Level 7 and Level 8* 

Note: Level 7 and Level 8 classifications have been combined to prevent the disclosure of personal information. 

$90,000 and above 

The figures in the following tables show the number of employees occupying positions at 30 June. Staffing 

profiles at 30 June 2011 and at 30 June 2010 are shown in Tables E2 and E4; the Office’s equal employment 

opportunity profile at 30 June 2011 is shown in Table E3. 

Table E2: Staffing profile at 30 June 2011 

Classification Full-time Part-time Canberra Sydney Total 

F M F M 

Statutory Officer – 1 – – 1 – 1 

SES Equivalent Officer – 1 – – 1 – 1 


Level 8 4 – – – 4 – 4 

Level 7 3 8 – – 11 – 11 

Level 6 6 5 – – 11 – 11 

Level 5 6 4 4 1 14 1 15 

Level 4 4 4 1 – 9 – 9 

Level 3 6 5 1 – 12 – 12 

Level 2 – 8 1 – 8 1 9 

Level 1 2 8 4 – 12 2 14 

Total 31 44 11 1 83 4 87 

Notes: All staff were employed under the Governor‐General Act 1974 on long-term or short-term contracts. In Canberra, staff are located 

at Government House, while in Sydney staff are located at Admiralty House. 


67

Table E3: Equal employment opportunity profile at 30 June 2011 


Total 

Female 42 

Male 45 

Aboriginal – 

Torres Strait Islander – 

Non–English speaking background a 9 

Non–English speaking background b 4 

People with disabilities 1 

a 

b 

Non–English speaking background, overseas born. 

Non–English speaking background, first-generation Australian (born in Australia). 

Table E4: Staffing profile at 30 June 2010 

Classification Full-time Part-time Canberra Sydney Total 

F M F M 

Statutory Officer – 1 – – 1 – 1 

SES Equivalent Officer – 1 – – 1 – 1 


Level 8 3 1 – – 4 – 4 

Level 7 5 5 – 1 11 – 11 

Level 6 8 5 1 – 14 – 14 

Level 5 5 5 3 – 12 1 13 

Level 4 4 5 1 – 9 1 10 

Level 3 7 2 2 – 11 – 11 

Level 2 2 6 1 – 9 9 

Level 1 3 10 4 – 16 1 17 

Total 37 41 12 1 88 3 91 

Notes: All staff were employed under the Governor‐General Act 1974 on long-term or short-term contracts. 

In Canberra, staff are located at Government House, while in Sydney staff are located at Admiralty House. One staff member 

worked remotely from Queensland. 


Appendices 

Appendix F: Occupational health and safety key statistics 

Table F1: OHS inspections 

OHS inspections 

conducted 

% of sites 

covered 

Number or % 

of substandard 

conditions 

identified 

Number or % 

of substandard 

conditions 

corrected 

Average 

time taken 

to complete 

corrections 

15 100% 2 2 2 weeks 

Table F2: OHS training & initiatives 

Types of OHS training undertaken 

Number of staff 

required to 

attend training 

% of staff that 

undertook 

training 

HSR training 0 0% 

OHS induction 17 100% 

Emergency training 62 71% 

Health & well being activities Optional 25% 

Table F3: Notifiable incidents 

Notifiable incidents 2011 2010 2009 

Deaths 0 0 0 

Dangerous occurrences 0 0 0 

Serious personal injury 0 0 0 

Incapacity 0 1 0 

Figure 3: Mechanism of incidents reporting 2010–11 

0% 

100% 

Falls, Trips and Slips 

Hitting Objects with Body 

Being Hit by Moving Objects 

Sound and Pressure 

Body Stressing 

Heat, Elec + Other Enviro Fact 

Chemicals and Other Substances 

Biological Factors 

Mental Stress 

Other and Unspecified 


69

Appendix G: Consultancy contracts 

Government purchasing policy requires that agencies publish open business opportunities, and gazette all 

contracts and standing offers with a value of $10,000 or more, in AusTender. Information on expenditure 

on contracts and consultancies is also available on the AusTender website (www.tenders.gov.au). 

Table G1 lists only those consultancies let in 2010–11 with a value of $10,000 or more. Information on total 

expenditure on consultants can be found under ‘Consultants’ in Chapter 3. 

Table G1: Consultancy services of $10 000 or more let during 2010–11 

Consultant name Description Contract 

price 

Selection 

process 1 Justification 2 

Taylor Brammer 

Landscape Architects 

Harris Hobbs Landscape 

Architectural Services 

Northrop 

Lovell Chen 

Tanner Architects 

Development of technical 

documentation and 

architectural advice 

Development of tender 

specifications 

Structural design 

engineering advice 

Heritage architectural advice 

for Government House 

Heritage architectural advice 

for Admiralty House 

$11,660 Direct B 

$12, 563 Direct B 

$26, 065 Direct B 

$22, 855 Direct B 

$20,311 Direct B 

Note: All contract prices include GST. 

1 

Explanation of selection process terms drawn from the Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines (January 2005): 

Open tender: A procurement procedure in which a request for tender is published inviting all businesses that satisfy the conditions 

for participation to submit tenders. Public tenders are sought from the marketplace using national and major metropolitan newspaper 

advertising and the Australian Government AusTender internet site. 

Select tender: A procurement procedure in which the procuring agency selects which potential suppliers are invited to submit 

tenders. Tenders are invited from a short list of competent suppliers. 

Direct sourcing: A form of restricted tendering, available only under certain defined circumstances, with a single potential supplier 

or suppliers being invited to bid because of their unique expertise and/or their ability to supply the goods and/or services sought. 

Panel: An arrangement under which a number of suppliers, usually selected through a single procurement process, may each 

supply property or services to an agency as specified in the panel arrangements. Tenders are sought from suppliers that have 

pre-qualified on agency panels to supply to the government. This category includes standing offers and supplier panels where the 

consultant offers to supply goods and services for a predetermined length of time, usually at a prearranged price. 

2 

Justification for decision to use consultancy: 

A – skills currently unavailable within agency 

B – need for specialised or professional skills 

C – need for independent research or assessment. 


Appendices 

Appendix H: Agency resource statement 

Table H1: Agency resource statement 2010–11 

Available for 


$‘000 

(a) 

Payments made 


$‘000 

(b) 

Balance remaining 


$‘000 

(a) – (b) 

Ordinary Annual Services 

Departmental appropriation 1 15,975 11,560 4,415 

Additional S31 Receipts 

Total 15,975 11,560 4,415 

Administered expenses 

Outcome 1 1,669 1,489 180 

Payments to CAC Act Bodies 

Total 1,669 1,489 180 

Total ordinary annual services A 17,644 13,049 4,595 

Other services 2 


Specific payments to States, 

Act, NT and local government 

Outcome 1 

Total 

New administered expenses 

Outcome 1 

Total 

Departmental non-operating 

Equity injections 3,237 1,173 2,064 

Previous years’ outputs 

Total 3,237 1,173 2,064 

Administered non-operating 

Administered Assets and Liabilities 

Continues over. 


71

Table H1 Cont. 

Payments to CAC Act Bodies - 

non-operating 

- - - 

Total 

Total other services B 3,237 1,173 2,064 

Total available annual appropriations 

and payments 

Salary to the Governor-General: 

Governor-General Act 1974 

Total special appropriations excluding 

special accounts 

Total Special Account 

394 394 - 

C 394 394 - 

D 

Total resourcing and payments (A+B+C+D) 21,275 14,616 6,659 

Less appropriations drawn from 

annual or special appropriations above 

and credited to special accounts 

and/or CAC Act bodies through 

annual appropriations 

Total net resourcing and payments for 

agency 

21,275 14,616 6,659 

1 

This may also include Prior Year departmental appropriation and s31 relevant agency receipts. 

2 

Appropriation Bill (No.2) 2010-11 and Appropriation Bill (No.4) 2010-11 [include any further bills as necessary] 


Appendices 

Table H2: Expenses and Resources for Outcome 1 

Outcome 1: The performance of the Governor-General’s role is facilitated through the organisation and 

management of official duties, management and maintenance of the official household and property and 

administration of the Australian Honours and Awards system 

Budget* 


$‘000 

(a) 

Program 1: Support for the Governor-General and Official Activities 


Actual Expenses 


$‘000 

(b) 

Variation 


$‘000 

(a) – (b) 

Ordinary Annual Services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) 1,669 1,489 180 

Other Services (Appropriation Bill No. 2) - - - 

Special appropriations 394 394 - 

Special Accounts - - - 

Total Administered expenses 2,063 1,883 180 

Departmental expenses 

Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) 11,128 11,128 - 

Revenues from independent sources (Section 31) 32 63 -31 

Special appropriations - - - 

Special Accounts - - - 

Expenses not requiring appropriation in the Budget year 506 368 138 

Total Departmental expenses 11,666 11,559 107 

Total for Program 1 13,729 13,442 287 

Average Staffing Level (number) 87 87 - 

* Full year budget, including any subsequent adjustment made to the 2010–11 Budget. 


73

Appendix I: List of requirements 

Part of Description Requirement Location 

Report 

Letter of transmittal Mandatory i 

Table of contents Mandatory ii–iii 

Index Mandatory 142 

Glossary Mandatory 140 

Contact officer(s) Mandatory inside front 

cover 

Internet home page address and Internet address for report Mandatory inside front 

cover 

Review by Secretary 

Review by departmental secretary Mandatory 2 

Summary of significant issues and developments Suggested 2 

Overview of department’s performance and 

Suggested 12–14 

financial results 

Outlook for following year Suggested 2 

Significant issues and developments – portfolio 

Portfolio 

departments 

Not 

applicable 

– suggested 

Departmental Overview 

Overview description of department Mandatory 3–4 

Role and functions Mandatory 3–4 

Organisational structure Mandatory 4 

Outcome and program structure Mandatory 3 

Where outcome and program structures differ from PB 

Statements/PAES or other portfolio statements accompanying 

any other additional appropriation bills (other portfolio 

statements), details of variation and reasons for change 

Portfolio structure 

Report on Performance 

Review of performance during the year in relation to 

programs and contribution to outcomes 

Actual performance in relation to deliverables and KPIs set out 

in PB Statements/PAES or other portfolio statements 

Where performance targets differ from the PBS/ PAES, 

details of both former and new targets, and reasons 

for the change 

Mandatory 

Portfolio 

departments 

– mandatory 

Not 

applicable 

Not 

applicable 

Mandatory 8 

Mandatory 14 

Mandatory 

Not 

applicable 

Narrative discussion and analysis of performance Mandatory 15–35 


Appendices 

Part of 


Description Requirement Location 

Trend information Mandatory 14 

Performance of purchaser/ provider arrangements 

If applicable, 

suggested 

Not 

applicable 

Significant changes in nature of principal functions/ services Suggested Not 

applicable 

Factors, events or trends influencing departmental 

Suggested 2 

performance 

Contribution of risk management in achieving objectives Suggested 45 

Social inclusion outcomes 

If applicable. 

mandatory 

47, 48, 53 

Performance against service charter customer service 

standards, complaints data, and the department’s response 

to complaints 

Discussion and analysis of the department’s financial 

performance 

Discussion of any significant changes from the prior year or 

from budget. 

Agency resource statement and summary resource tables 

by outcomes 

Developments since the end of the financial year that 

have affected or may significantly affect the department’s 

operations or financial results in future 

Management Accountability 

Corporate Governance 

Agency heads are required to certify that their agency 

complies with the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines. 

Statement of the main corporate governance practices 

in place 


mandatory 

Not 

applicable 

Mandatory 12–13, 

71–3 

Suggested 

Not 

applicable 

Mandatory 71–3 


mandatory 

Not 

applicable 

Mandatory 45 

Mandatory 44–6 

Names of the senior executive and their responsibilities Suggested 4 

Senior management committees and their roles Suggested 44 

Corporate and operational planning and associated Suggested 45,46 

performance reporting and review 

Approach adopted to identify areas of significant financial Suggested 45 

or operational risk 

Policy and practices on the establishment and maintenance Suggested 46 

of appropriate ethical standards 

How nature and amount of remuneration for SES officers Suggested 47 

is determined 

External Scrutiny 

Significant developments in external scrutiny Mandatory 46 

Judicial decisions and decisions of administrative tribunals Mandatory 46 


75



Reports by the Auditor-General, a Parliamentary 

Mandatory 46 

Committee or the Commonwealth Ombudsman 

Management of Human Resources 

Assessment of effectiveness in managing and developing Mandatory 47–9 

human resources to achieve departmental objectives 

Workforce planning, staff turnover and retention Suggested 48 

Impact and features of enterprise or collective agreements, Suggested 46, 47, 48 

individual flexibility arrangements (IFAs), determinations, 

common law contracts and AWAs 

Training and development undertaken and its impact Suggested 47, 48 

Occupational health and safety performance Suggested 50, 69 

Productivity gains Suggested 50 

Statistics on staffing Mandatory 67–8 

Enterprise or collective agreements, IFAs, determinations, Mandatory 46, 47, 48 

common law contracts and AWAs 

Performance pay Mandatory 48 

Assets 

management 

Purchasing 

Consultants 

Australian 

National 

Audit Office 

Access 

Clauses 

Exempt 

contracts 

Assessment of effectiveness of assets management 

Assessment of purchasing against core policies and 

principles 

The annual report must include a summary statement 

detailing the number of new consultancy services contracts 

let during the year, the total actual expenditure on all new 

consultancy contracts let during the year (inclusive of GST), 

the number of ongoing consultancy contracts that were 

active in the reporting year, and the total actual expenditure 

in the reporting year on the ongoing consultancy contracts 

(inclusive of GST). The annual report must include a 

statement noting that information on contracts and 

consultancies is available through the AusTender website. 

(Additional information as in Attachment D to be available 

on the Internet or published as an appendix to the report. 

Information must be presented in accordance with the 

proforma as set out in Attachment D.) 

Absence of provisions in contracts allowing access by the 

Auditor-General 

If applicable, 52 

mandatory 

Mandatory 52 

Mandatory 52, 70 

Mandatory 53 

Contracts exempt from the AusTender Mandatory 53 


Appendices 



Financial Financial Statements Mandatory 80–137 

Statements 

Other Mandatory Informations 

Occupational health and safety (section 74 of the 

Mandatory 50, 69 

Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991) 

Freedom of information for the period 1 July 2010 to Mandatory 54 

30 April 2011 inclusive (see terms of subsection 8(1) of 

the Freedom of Information Act 1982 as it existed prior to 

1 May 2011 

Advertising and Market Research (Section 311A of the Mandatory 53 

Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918) and statement on 

advertising campaigns 

Ecologically sustainable development and environmental Mandatory 55 

performance (Section 516A of the Environment Protection 

and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999) 

Grant programs Mandatory 53 

Disability reporting – explicit and transparent reference 

to agency‐level information available through other 

reporting mechanisms 

Mandatory 53 

Correction of material errors in previous annual report 


mandatory 

Not 

applicable 

List of Requirements Mandatory 74–7 


77

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