Speech delivered on Suday 25 January 2026 at the Wat Dhammadharo in Canberra.

I acknowledge and pay my respects to Elders past and present, and to any members of First Nations communities here today.

Your Highness, welcome back to Australia and to Canberra. Thank you for the warmth of your memories of being here, and for your steadfast involvement with Australia. The Government of Australia greatly appreciates this.

It is a great honour to sit beside you, venerable members of the Sangha — members of the Sangha of Wat Dhammadharo — representing His Holiness the Supreme Patriarch; the Venerable Abbot of Wat Dhammadharo Temple; and Her Excellency Ms Arjaree Sriratanaban, Ambassador of Thailand. It is wonderful to see you again.

Distinguished guests, including Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston; members of parliament; distinguished community leaders; and the very many members of the community joining us this afternoon.

I acknowledge everybody in this community — every single person — involved in bringing this project to life. Thank you for your very kind and warm invitation for me to play a part in this historic and auspicious consecration.

On behalf of all Australians, I would like to begin by offering my deep condolences on the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, the Queen Mother. I am sure her memory will be a source of strength for so many.

As the first Canberra-born Governor-General, I am so pleased to be here today to celebrate the consecration of the Buddhawat Precinct at Canberra’s first and only Thai temple. This important milestone for Canberra’s Buddhist community is also a moment of passionate celebration, recognising the significant contribution of the Thai community to the success of our modern Australia-born Governor-General, I am so pleased to be here today to celebrate the consecration of the  

The bonds of friendship between Australia and Thailand are precious, longstanding, and enduring. Your Highness’s reflections on the strength of the Thai community in Australia are deeply appreciated, particularly at a time when Australia has faced significant challenges at the opening of 2026.

In 2000, one of my predecessors as Governor-General, Sir William Deane, officially opened the Wat Dhammadharo Temple in the presence of senior monks from Thailand, including today’s Supreme Patriarch. Sir William is a man of peace, of faith, and of deep respect for Australia’s rich spiritual and cultural diversity. He still lives in Canberra, and I spoke with him earlier this month to wish him a happy 95th birthday. Governor-General, Sir William Deane, officially opened the Wat.  

I am sure that Australians everywhere would be deeply moved by the spirit of community that is so beautifully expressed here today.

The Buddhist monastic ceremonies we have witnessed today recognise that this is sacred land – preserved for the most significant religious functions, and as a place to enshrine important relics.

Wat Dhammadharo Temple was founded in 1993 by Venerable Ajahn Brahm, who came to Australia as a missionary monk in the 1970s, at the same time that His Majesty King Maha Vajiralongkorn was attending the Royal Military College, Duntroon. I know that my immediate predecessor, General David Hurley, a classmate of His Majesty’s, was honoured to undertake a State Visit to Thailand in 2024.

The consecration of the Buddhawat Precinct is the culmination of a long and complex project that began in 2006 to commemorate two auspicious occasions: the 60th anniversary of the accession of His late Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, and the 80th anniversary of His late Majesty’s birth. The sacred relics enshrined here are dedicated to His late Majesty in gratitude for a lifetime of service.

Tomorrow, as we all know, our country, Australia, will come together to celebrate our National Day – Australia Day. Here, at this temple today, we are reminded of the values that bind us as a nation: care, kindness, respect, belonging, and unity. Those Australian values are also your values.

When I was sworn in as Governor-General, I committed to placing care, kindness, and respect at the core of everything that I will do during my term, and that our official residences would be places of belonging and peace, where everyone is welcome.

As we reflect today on our shared story and look ahead with great hope, the Buddhawat Precinct will be a place where community is built through quiet service and care, and where Buddhist traditions continue to be practiced as an enduring contribution to the strength, stability, and unity of Australia’s democratic, multicultural, modern society.

On behalf of all Australians, I again thank the many hands, generous hearts, energy, and dedication that have brought this vision to life – including the monks, members of the Buddhist community, volunteers, sponsors, and friends.

I am delighted that the cultural and faith life of Canberra will be so beautifully enriched by this precinct – a sanctuary of peace, learning, and service for generations to come.

May the memories of today’s consecration continue to uplift and inspire you long into our shared future.

Thank you very much.