SWEARING-IN CEREMONY FOR MINISTERS AND PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARIES AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA

3 December 2007

Good morning Ladies and Gentlemen and Boys and Girls, and a very warm welcome to Government House, Yarralumla.

My name is Malcolm Hazell and I am the Official Secretary to the Governor-General. On behalf of all the staff, it is a great pleasure to welcome you here on this very special day. We would like to help make it even more special for you, so if we can help in any way, please ask one of the staff.

May I give you some background on events which happened earlier today so that you will understand the context in which today's swearing-in ceremony takes place. At the outset, I should mention that these events have as their authority, our Constitution.

You will all be aware that on Monday 26 November 2007, the Governor-General invited Mr Kevin Rudd to form a new government following the election held on 24 November. This was done on the basis of formal advice from the then Prime Minister and in accordance with longstanding practice.

Up until today's swearing-in, the previous government has remained in caretaker mode.

Earlier this morning, the Governor-General signed the instrument appointing Mr Rudd as Prime Minister and administered the Oath of Office to Mr Rudd, making him Australia's 26th Prime Minister since Federation. The Governor-General also administered the Oath of a Federal Executive Councillor to Mr Rudd, which brings with it the courtesy title of “The Honourable”.

The Governor-General then administered the Federal Executive Councillor's Oath to Ms Julia Gillard and presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council at which, amongst other things, he signed instruments changing the structure of departments and determining a new Administrative Arrangements Order, allocating functions and legislation to the various departments. This provides the legal basis for the structure of the new Ministry.

Following the Executive Council Meeting, the Governor-General signed instruments of appointment, counter-signed by the Prime Minister, appointing all remaining Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries to their respective offices.

Today's ceremony involves taking the Oath or Affirmation of Office, required to be taken by all Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries and, for those being appointed for the first time, the Executive Councillor's Oath.

The Executive Council derives from Section 62 of the Constitution which provides “There shall be a Federal Executive Council to advise the Governor-General and the Government of the Commonwealth, and the Members of the Council shall be chosen and summoned by the Governor-General and sworn as Executive Councillors, and shall hold office during his pleasure”.

In relation to the Oath or Affirmation of Office, Section 64 of the Constitution provides that "the Governor-General may appoint officers to administer such departments of state of the Commonwealth as the Governor-General in Council may establish. Such officers shall hold office during the pleasure of the Governor-General. They shall be Members of the Federal Executive Council, and shall be the Queen’s Ministers of State for the Commonwealth".

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I now give you a brief outline of how today’s simple ceremony will unfold.

After I have given you this quick run-down, Her Excellency Mrs Jeffery, accompanied by Ms Rein, will join us through the doorway to my right, followed by the Governor-General and the Prime Minister. Would you please stand for their arrival and remain standing for the singing of the first verse of the National Anthem.

The Governor-General will then invite all to be seated and make a short statement of welcome. We then move to the swearing-in proper.

May I address some remarks now to those being sworn in today. Firstly, warm congratulations on your appointment. I look forward to working with you and your staff as you undertake your important roles.

After the initial welcome, the Governor-General will invite you to swear the Oath of an Executive Councillor. This will be done in two stages and will apply only to those who have not been sworn as Federal Executive Councillors previously. Those taking the Oath will be asked by the Governor-General to stand in your place and take your Bible in your right hand. I read the Oath to you, severally, and you reply "I do. So help me God!" After taking the Oath, please be seated.

The Governor-General will then invite those taking the Affirmation as an Executive Councillor to stand in your places. As before I will read the Oath to all of you and you reply "I do." The Governor-General will then invite you to be seated. After all the formalities relating to your role as an Executive Councillor have concluded, the Governor-General will administer the Oath or Affirmation of Office to each of you individually.

The Prime Minister will be asked to present each of you to the Governor-General in order of precedence.

For those wishing to take the Oath, as you are called, please come to the table and stand in front of the Governor-General, take your Bible in your right hand, remain standing and swear the Oath of Office that will be handed to you. After taking the Oath, please be seated at the table and sign firstly the Oath of Office, and then the Executive Councillor’s Oath and pass both to the Governor-General who will counter-sign them.

For those making the Affirmation, it is a similar procedure. When announced, could I ask each of you to come to the table and stand in front of the Governor-General, remain standing, and make the Affirmation. Then please be seated at the table, sign the two documents and pass them back to the Governor-General who will sign them.

For all of you, after the documents are signed, the Governor-General will stand and shake hands to congratulate you. Move to the side of the table to stand beside the Governor-General when the official photographs will be taken. Then please return to your seat.

After all have been sworn in, I will announce the conclusion of the ceremony and invite all those sworn in to accompany the Governor-General and the Prime Minister for the formal photograph at the State Entrance to Government House. This will be a formal photographic opportunity only.

At this time, I would ask that all other guests remain seated until the Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries have left the Room.

Then, Mrs Jeffery would be pleased if you would join her and Ms Rein for refreshments on the Terrace. The Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries will join you after the photographs.

At about 12.15 pm, cars will be available to collect guests. Guests will depart from the State Entrance. There will be a Comcar officer assisting with these departures.

Most importantly, please relax and enjoy your special day. We here at Government House will try to make it just that for you, so welcome everybody once again. It's a great pleasure to have you with us this morning.