LETTER TO THE EDITOR OF THE COURIER-MAIL CONCERNING CLAIMS MADE IN THE MONDAY VIEW COLUMN OF 4 FEBRUARY 2008

4 February 2008

I wonder whether Mike O'Connor, in researching his Monday View column about the Governor-General, spoke to any of the 180 or so voluntary and service organisations for which the Governor-General and Mrs Jeffery are patron? Or the farmers, miners, teachers, emergency service workers, indigenous leaders and nurses across Australia who have been visited by the Governor-General and Mrs Jeffery and thanked for their efforts on behalf of the community.

Or perhaps any of the 40,000 people who have received awards under our honours system – each delighted in the fact that Governor-General has taken the time to memorise their biographies and to make a personal comment about their achievements.

Did he talk to any of our military personnel who have received the Governor-General at bases across Australia and overseas? To any of the veterans at ANZAC Day and other commemorative services who served with General Jeffery in Vietnam, Borneo, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia?

Did he speak to anyone in Western Australia where General Jeffery served with distinction for 7 years as State Governor?

Did he speak to any of the 4,000 special needs children and their carers who have been to Government House as a Christmas treat?

Or any of the thousands of children who visit Government House during the year?

Mr O'Connor's purported knowledge about the Governor-General’s future intentions are wrong. Instead of "aiming to secure another term", General Jeffery is on the public record indicating his intention to relinquish office at the end of the year. Certainly Mr O’Connor did not read the Governor-General’s 2008 Australia Day Address. Nor any of the other 800 or so speeches on our website at www.gg.gov.au.  

Mr O'Connor asks whether the community gets their money’s worth?

You be the judge.

Since his appointment, General Jeffery has:
• Delivered over 850 speeches;
• Attended some 1100 separate events throughout Australia;
• Hosted over 750 official functions;
• Received the credentials of over 130 Ambassadors and High Commissioners;
• Presided over 121 meetings of the Federal Executive Council, which has considered some 2,540 agenda items;
• Assented to over 760 pieces of legislation;
• Received over 500 callers, many of whom were representatives of the approximately 180 organisations for which the Governor-General and Mrs Jeffery are Patrons; and
• Represented the Government and people of Australia in Belgium, China, Denmark, East Timor, Egypt, Germany, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Rome, Saudi Arabia, The Netherlands, the Solomon Islands, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Samoa and Singapore.

The portrait offered by Mr O'Connor, of a man who has served his country for over 50 years as a decorated soldier, Governor and Governor-General, is disingenuous in the extreme.

Malcolm Hazell
Official Secretary to the Governor-General