Speech delivered on 10 March 2026, at the Sheraton Hotel in Sydney.

Good evening, everybody and thank you. And thank you, Garry Browne AM, for offering such a heartfelt and important toast to the Commonwealth and to Australia. Your reflections—especially your focus on the extraordinary contribution that Jewish Australians have made to our remarkable country across every field of endeavour, and most profoundly in our shared values—were an important part of tonight’s proceedings. I thank you very much for that.

As Governor-General of Australia, a nation that takes great pride in being part of the Commonwealth family, I am so pleased to be here this evening following the wonderful service in the Great Synagogue. Among the many things we celebrate tonight, it is a privilege to join you as we come together to mark Commonwealth Day.

I acknowledge that we are gathered on Gadigal land and pay my respects to Elders, past and present. I also acknowledge any Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people who are with us this evening.

I am very pleased to join my dear friend, the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC. She has long been a guide for me—much more practiced in the skills of vice regal service—and I turned to her for assistance before taking on this role. We were together with our husbands on Sunday night—on International Women’s Day—to cheer on the Matildas in a nail biting contest against South Korea. You know the outcome: a draw. But the atmosphere, in a record breaking crowd of more than 60,000, was electric. Their campaign now heads to Perth, and like all Australians, I hope we will cheer them on with excitement and pride—not only celebrating sport, but women’s sport and women’s leadership on the world stage.

I acknowledge all of you, distinguished guests. Many of us were together earlier tonight at the Great Synagogue for the Opening of the 2026 NSW Law Term and the rededication of the Synagogue’s recently restored sanctuary. For those who were there, you know it was a privilege to be present among so many friends for such a significant occasion. Thank you for inviting me to be part of it.

I was delighted to greet and spend time again with Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis KCVO, Chief Rabbi of the Commonwealth. And now, as we celebrate Commonwealth Day, I am pleased that we can continue our celebrations with the support of the Great Synagogue Foundation. Rabbi, it was very special to speak with you quietly after the ceremony about your work across Commonwealth nations, your longstanding friendship with His Majesty, and the leadership you bring to so many communities.

Yesterday in Canberra, I marked Commonwealth Day at a magnificent multifaith celebration hosted by the Royal Commonwealth Society at the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture on the shores of Lake Burley Griffin. The Centre is a place that a previous Governor-General, Sir William Deane, advised me to spend time in before I took office—and to always put compassion at the centre of my work. I think of Sir William every time I visit. He recently turned 95 and is doing very well in Canberra; he has lost none of the sharpness he displayed on the High Court bench.

Following a beautiful Welcome to Country by local Ngunnawal Elder Uncle Warren Daley, the Centre hosted a brilliant canvas of diversity: songs, drumming, dancing and reflections representing the nations and many cultures, faiths and histories of the Commonwealth—including the Jewish faith. We celebrated the essence of our family of nations: unity without uniformity, and our shared values of justice, democracy, compassion and mutual respect.

During the ceremony, I had the privilege of reading the Commonwealth Day message from His Majesty King Charles III. His message acknowledged that at a time of great challenge, the opportunity of the Commonwealth remains one of possibility, potential and optimism. In his words:

“What distinguishes the Commonwealth is not only what our governments resolve together, but what our people do each day in countless acts of service, enterprise and creativity.”

As a nation, we saw this same hope embodied in the countless acts of service offered by Australians across the country following the unspeakable antisemitic attack on a peaceful Hanukkah by the Sea at Bondi Beach on 14 December. In response, Australians in Bondi, Sydney, across New South Wales and across our country surged to support and stand in solidarity with the victims and their families, with Jewish Australians and with Jews everywhere.

We saw the heroism of surf lifesavers, police, first responders, hospital teams and civilians—people giving blood, comforting strangers, performing mitzvahs. As His Majesty said, we saw countless acts of service. They were, and will always be, the light in the darkness of that terrible day.

When I was sworn in as Australia’s 28th Governor-General, I promised to put care, kindness and respect at the centre of my work: care for each other, care for those who care for others, care for our continent and its environmental riches, care for civics and institutions, and care for the way we discuss the issues of our time—without rancour, anger or judgement.

In a world of increasing conflict and complexity, how we debate the big issues has taken on new urgency. I believe we need to rediscover something Australians have always known how to do: to disagree well. To wrestle with the idea, not the person proposing it. To listen deeply and actively—not simply wait for our turn to speak.

The Commonwealth’s principles of consultation and cooperation in the common interest are a beacon of how to agree well, and how to disagree well: to discuss, to debate, and to do so with respect. That is at the heart of the national project of unity that Australians have committed to. And it is a model—unity without uniformity—that is a sustaining pillar of the Commonwealth.

On Commonwealth Day 2026, I am proud to join you in celebrating the beauty, diversity and unity of our Commonwealth—a community that spans the world and brings people together in friendship and love. I cannot imagine a better union of celebrations than the rededication at the Great Synagogue this evening and our celebration of the Commonwealth here tonight.

As I said at the end of the synagogue service: we are all united by care, by kindness, by respect—and, most importantly, by love.