APPOINTMENT OF OFFICIAL SECRETARY TO THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

14 May 1998

The Governor-General, Sir William Deane, announced today the appointment of Mr Martin Bonsey as Official Secretary to the Governor-General with effect from 15th July 1998. Mr Bonsey is currently First Assistant Secretary in the Government Division of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Sir William said that Mr Douglas Sturkey had submitted his resignation as Official Secretary from 14th July in order that he might undertake post-graduate academic work and research at the Australian National University. Having served as Australian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia and the countries of the Arabian Peninsula 1979-84, Mr Sturkey had for some years expressed an interest in enrolling in the ANU's Centre for Middle Eastern and Central Asian Studies.

The Governor-General said that Mr Sturkey's resignation had been accepted with great regret, but that he understood Mr Sturkey's reasons for his decision. "He was appointed Official Secretary in 1990, and will leave after eight years in office, during which time he has served both Mr Hayden and myself superbly well", Sir William said.