Speech delivered on 16 April 2026 at Government House.

I acknowledge that we gather today on the lands of the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people. I pay my respects to their elders, past and present, and recognise any other people or families with a connection to the lands of the ACT and region.

I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people here today. 

I join Gerard in acknowledging our distinguished guests who join us on this important day, and I want to thank the RMC Band for once again bringing beautiful music to today’s event. They will also be playing after our formalities conclude.

Of course, our most distinguished guests are the 17 Australians we celebrate today, together with their families, friends and colleagues joining us here, and those watching from home on the livestream. You have all played such a significant role in the lives and achievements of those we honour today.

On this glorious autumn day, welcome to Government House. This is a special time in Canberra, where the grounds are at their best, the colours of the trees are magnificent, the sun is out, and there is a crispness in the air.

This is a place of peace and welcome, where everyone belongs, and where we are honoured and delighted to celebrate Australian stories.

One of the first things you may have seen as you entered Government House is Sir William Dargie CBE’s portrait of the late Queen Elizabeth II. It is called The Wattle Queen.

Over the weekend, I was privileged to speak at the commemoration of the 85th anniversary of the Siege of Tobruk and to pay respects to the Rats of Tobruk. I learned that Sir William Dargie discovered he had won the 1942 Archibald Prize for Portraiture while he was digging a trench in Tobruk.

Dargie’s painting here welcomes you to what we call our “Wattle Corridor” — an entrance filled with paintings and images of our national floral emblem, starting with a magnificent work, Ikara–Wangarra, by the late Nicholas Harding, where brilliant yellow wattle emerges from the dappled light and shade of the Ikara bush.

And as you make your way further into the House, you will discover Bridge and Wattle at Warrandyte, painted by Penleigh Boyd in 1914.

The golden wattle is our national floral emblem, and it reflects our energy and character. As a symbol, it says so much about who we are as Australians.

Importantly for today, it is wattle that sits at the centre of the design of the Order of Australia insignia, first designed by Stuart Devlin. Today, I am wearing a brooch gifted to me by the President of Mongolia — a beautiful, thoughtful gesture of respect for Australia.

As new Australian citizens take their pledges, they are often given wattle seedlings as part of their ceremony. And last year marked the first time that a Bravery Decorations honours list was released on Wattle Day — 1 September, the first day of spring.

Throughout the House you will see many artworks, including a temporary exhibition by George Petrou OAM — portraits of Victoria Cross recipients Albert Jacka, Keith Payne and Cameron Baird, and Australian heroes such as Nurse Vivian Bullwinkel and Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop.

These works have been generously lent to us by Richard Rolfe AM from an exhibition called The Art of Humanity — a collection of George’s portraits of people who have served or contributed to Australia.

Please do wander around the ground floor to enjoy the art and artefacts, particularly with so many of you awarded today for service to the arts and culture.

Last year we celebrated the first half century of the Australian honours system. Over that time, our honours have recognised remarkable people whose qualities represent the very best of modern Australia. A glance at the list of honourees you are joining is an exercise in gratitude and astonishment at the generosity and contributions of so many. The breadth of service is extraordinary.

The Australia Day Honours List this year included 680 recipients in the General Division of the Order of Australia, 22 in the Military Division, 187 meritorious awards, and 60 awards for conspicuous or distinguished service.

In a sombre moment, on the second anniversary of the terrible incident at Bondi Junction, I announced eight bravery decorations for the selfless and brave people who responded in those moments of horror.

Every honours recipient has a unique story, and I hope you will share your stories with one another during the time you spend here today.

All of you are united by your humility, and sometimes surprise, at being honoured. You always say it is about others, not you.
In the years to come, I hope you will wear your lapel pins and decorations with pride and use your postnominals. They allow others in our community to learn about your service and contribution.

I hope your acknowledgements inspire others to think of people they could nominate.

I also want to acknowledge that there is one posthumous award today, recognising how difficult it can be for family to accept an important honour in the absence of a truly exceptional Australian.

Here at Government House, we think investiture ceremonies are some of our very best days. We make these celebrations as special and memorable as possible to honour you and your stories, and your families, friends and colleagues who have supported and loved you.

Today, I especially want to acknowledge Ms Sharon Prendergast LVO.

For almost 20 years, Sharon has been the Director of the Honours and Awards Secretariat. She has been a custodian of our national honours for a large part of its 50 year history and exemplifies the commitment and dedication of the many people who administer our honours and make these awards possible.

She is retiring from her role in the coming weeks, and we wish her much happiness ahead. In thanking her, I also want to acknowledge the team here who have worked hard to make your experience today so special.

Meeting recipients of honours is one of the great privileges of my role as your Governor General.

In each honours list — and in this room today — we see a cross section of remarkable and diverse achievement: community service, volunteering, professional achievement, service in uniform, service to the intelligence community, and much more. I am particularly happy to invest so many of you from Canberra, given I am the first Canberra born Governor General.

As you will hear in Gerard’s reading of your citations, your lasting impact on the world is not bound by geography, status, interests, careers, ability, age, gender, or where you started.

When I was sworn in as your Governor General, I promised to put care, kindness and respect at the core of my work: care for one another; care for those who care for others; care for our extraordinary continent and its environmental beauty; care for civics and institutions; and care for the way in which we discuss and debate the issues of our time — without judgement, anger or violence, and always with respect.

Care, kindness and respect typify the character of all those we honour today, and I hope your memories of this day will be cherished long into the future.

Thank you for everything you have done, and everything you continue to do each day.

And thank you to your families, friends and colleagues who have nurtured, supported and loved you, and who celebrate with you today.

On behalf of all Australians, I am proud and delighted to congratulate you all, and to play my role in investing you with your insignia.