Television Transcript - Broadcast 21 October 2026, 5:34 PM - 5:49 PM

Chris Kenny: Now, as I mentioned earlier, I went to Admiralty House today to have a sit-down interview with the Governor-General, Sam Mostyn, to discuss the horrific fate that's befallen independent MP Helen Haines and what all this means for our country. Let me share that with you now.

Chris Kenny: Governor-General, thanks for joining us on the Kenny Report. I have to start with the horrible episode in Wangaratta and Helen Haines’ injuries. What are your reflections on that at this stage?

Governor-General: Well, my thoughts, at the moment, like all Australians, remain with Helen. She remains in a critical condition in the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with her family nearby. She has sustained terrible, terrible injuries. I think the country is shocked and shattered by this and looking for explanations and trying to understand what has happened. But for Helen, for her family, for her team and all those volunteers around Indi, my thoughts are with them, and we've got to hope that there is a recovery ahead, even if it will be a very long recovery. This has been a terrible attack on an elected official in our federal parliament, one of the best of her kind and most beloved. People admire Helen Haines because of the way she conducts herself, I think almost as the exemplar of how we conduct debate in our parliaments. So, I think it's had an even deeper effect because it is Helen Haines.

Chris Kenny: You know her personally?

Governor-General: I do. I was with her two weeks ago in Euroa. I was there for a regional visit to say thank you to CFA and other first responders for the terrible fires and floods around Strathbogie and Shepparton and her seat, along with all of the mayors of that region. We were in a recovery hub in Euroa where we were saying thank you to some very special people who are still standing by people in recovery in that part of Victoria. And as we were leaving, because I've known Helen and I've admired her and her style, we started talking about this very issue, about what needs to be done. How would we almost have the conversation nationally about civility, respect for people who do stand for public office? I'd like to talk about encouraging more people to understand how our democracy works and to stop the deterioration of civics education. So, we were having exactly that conversation and we left with a hug, saying we must do more of this work because it's so important to uplift the nation. So, for me personally, there's an element of disbelief that the woman who has always worked quietly and patiently on these issues, most recently about just how our parliaments operate and the role of Question Time and all those features. It's those parliamentarians like Helen that it's almost impossible to imagine anyone wanting to attack. So, I feel, I'm very, very sad at the moment. But I know that as Governor-General, it's important for us to have this conversation and to talk about, where do we go from here.

Chris Kenny: It's a dark stain on our democracy, isn't it? A democracy that by global standards has been remarkably free of violence.

Governor-General: We have had some attacks on leaders, but they've been rare, and I think people have studied that and looked at the causation of those. But we are one of the most stable, successful democracies in the world. One of the great privileges I have as Governor-General is to travel the world on state visits. And there's not a single place I go where people don't take the time to say, you are representing one of the greatest democracies, keep it up. They're very jealous of many of the features of our democracy, our compulsory voting, our preferential voting, an independent electoral commissioner, and the fact that the people have a say of the way this country is run at local, state and federal levels. And I always come back renewed in my commitment as Governor-General to celebrate that with people.

Chris Kenny: You travel a lot around Australia as well, and I know you like to have a lot of intimate contact with Australians, mainstream Australians, wherever you go. So, how much do you fear for your own safety in this climate? And how much do you worry that these security fears could inhibit that work?

Governor-General: So, I think the big takeout of this is that it has sent a chilling effect across our parliaments, not just federally, but state, and of course, across local government, where local councillors, who I meet all the time when I go into local communities, and it's generally with a mayor and councillors. They've been telling me lately, long before this issue, that it's become very testing as local councillors to have open council meetings without threats of violence, people turning up in their home addresses threatening their families. So, we've been seeing something that's been happening across our system. This, of course, is a deeper chill because of the extreme nature of this and the catastrophic injury suffered by Helen. For me, personally, I am so well served by the Australian Federal Police, I have a close protection unit that Governors-General have always had. It is attached not to me as the person, but to the role as the representative of the head of state. And I knew that when I took on this role that I would give up all my privacy and that wherever I am, outside places like this, that I would have close protection. They are magnificent. The Prime Minister has that level of protection, as do a number of senior office holders. So, I never feel scared or worried. I understand those that might, particularly in this climate, but even if I didn't have them in the office of Governor-General, we see very little in the way of a credible threat. Those threats seem to have been running and increasing for elected representatives. Of course, I'm not elected. I have a very different role, representing His Majesty and operating through our constitution. What I experience most places I go is a deep affection for our system and people wanting to reach out and talk to me in a different role not having politics. I have no politics, no policies. I don't have any money to grant and I do remind people of that, I find people leaning in. They often share things with me that they might not share with politicians. They generally say they'd like us to return to a country where care is at the centre of things. They ask why we're not kinder to each other. And they always talk about why it is that we've lost the great art of debate and how to disagree. Often, they say to me, where's that great muscle of decency? And I see the most decent impact and the most decent people wherever I go. So, I don't feel frightened, because the great Australian public and people you would see all the time, Chris, lean into our democracy. But I'm acutely aware that for others, that sense of safety is not as strong as I have.

Chris Kenny: You've been in the role for over two years now, and it's been a particularly toxic time in our public debate, in our political debate. We've seen rising levels of antisemitism, of course, culminating in that horrific massacre at Bondi. Now we've had an elected federal politician attacked, allegedly outside her electorate office. What do you think is happening in our political environment at the moment that's leading to so much hatred, so many threats and also realised violence?

Governor-General: So, of course you would understand that I won't comment on the political class or politicians, given my role. I would reflect that as I took office and I gave my first address to the Australian people in the Senate, when I was sworn in by the Chief Justice, I committed myself in this role to putting care, kindness and respect and decency at the centre of everything I would do. I would observe over the time I've been Governor-General, you've mentioned the most horrific antisemitic attack at Bondi, where I showed up immediately to offer comfort, which all former Governors-General have done, and then to try to work with that community and the broader Australian community to push against any form of anti Semitism and to look more broadly at what was rising in our country that was making people feel unsafe, Jewish people and others. And to say, we can be better than this. But I did know coming into this job that one of the things that was changing profoundly around us was the way in which we get our news. And so, when I was growing up, it was the newspapers and watching the regular news service. Most Australians, as I was growing up, had a shared source of news and fact was fact. Today, a lot of our communities, and particularly post-Covid when we went into our own worlds, have a curated form of information. Sometimes it's misinformation, sometimes it's a deliberate disinformation. But we can curate our news services and our source of what we think is truth. And we all work, I think we've started to see what happens when you stretch a society that in Australia has generally been around the centre, and agreed on most things, if we know the facts have now creating different streams of understanding of what is truth. Combine that with communities that then operate in silos and don't want to know about what others are doing. You see the beginning of what I think is this, a slow fraying of democratic principles. I don't believe we're in a catastrophic period. I have to believe that the strength of our democracy will hold. But democracies start to fail when the loose threads start to come undone and we don't pay attention. It's one of the most precious assets. So, I encourage people to make sure that what they are dealing with is fact and that when we enter debates, we leave some room and space for someone we disagree with and don't move immediately to a violent attack. That we might reconsider that tweet or that Instagram response that's got expletives and caps. Even when we speak to one another, we might just take a breath and think, I disagree, but I'm going to actually enter into this conversation with exercising that muscle of decency. I think that's been deteriorating because I'm not sure we have that one source of truth anymore, if we ever did, I imagine. But there's something about curating your own understanding of the world. And, then of course, the world has changed. So, in my time in the office, we have seen some of the greatest conflicts, a big shift in the geostrategic positioning of the world. I don't want to be preachy about it or be Pollyanna-ish about it. What I see when I go deep into community and have the proper conversations with people, I still see the essence of people who believe deeply in our democracy, in mateship, in Anzac tradition, in helping one another. And I see them yearning for us all to be kind and respectful.

Chris Kenny: I think you're right. I think that demise of the public square is a big factor in modern public debate. Also, I think people hate to admit when they get anything wrong. And I wrote a column earlier this year, I know you read it, where I admitted I got it wrong about you. I predicted that as a fairly activist person in business, you wouldn't be able to resist activism in your role. I was wrong. You've been above politics. You've been above activism for the past two years or so as Governor-General. Has it been hard biting your tongue when it comes to political or social issues?

Governor-General: Well, first of all, thank you for having the courage and the grace to actually publicly say that. It meant a great deal to me because my appointment was highly criticised. To this day, I still receive quite disturbing feedback online, often anonymously, that suggests all sorts of things about my intention. I'm interested in that word activist because I've always been an active member as a citizen. I grew up in an army family. I understood service in every job I've had. I've never been a member of a political party. I've never gone out and protested. I have stood up for things I believe are right and true and good. I never had a temptation to do anything other than serve in this role. I wouldn't have accepted it if I didn't think I could do it. I felt coming in that I knew what the job required. At its core, it's respect for the Australian people and I'm not tempted to ever do anything other than speak up on behalf of all Australians. No politics. I said to you earlier, I don't vote. In this period of five years, I have sought permission from the Federal Electoral Commissioner to not vote and not be fined or have to deal with the consequences on the basis that I could say to anyone I meet, I don't go to a polling booth and make a choice. I am totally above the fray. My job is completely distinct, and I represent The Crown and my constitutional roles are very important, as are my ceremonial and constitutional, ceremonial and Commander-in-Chief and community. It is the ultimate privilege to serve in this role, and I treat it with the greatest of respect.

Chris Kenny: You're the opposite to me. I'd like to vote more often. I might ask the Electoral Commission whether they'll give me your vote.

Governor-General: Well, it was an interesting conversation because a lot of people said, no, you must hold the vote. It is the ultimate civic benefit. Like, it is the thing that people come and move to this country and become citizens in order to affect, to vote. And so, by giving it up, I did. My husband did not give it up. He said, well, I'm not the Governor-General and I think that is one of the most precious things I have. We don't talk politics. I have no idea who he votes for at any level of government, but I'm quite clear that it was important to send a strong signal about who I am and that I won't engage in any political discussion or have a mind about politics. I know what this role requires.

Chris Kenny:  Just finally, then, of course, you are The King's representative in this country and with The Royal family's personal traumas being played out publicly, in what amounts to a soap opera, do you worry that that diminishes faith or respect for The Royal family?

Governor-General: I won't comment on any of those aspects of The Royal family. What I can say is that it's an immense privilege for me to represent His Majesty King Charles III. We have regular communication. I have spent time with him, most recently in Scotland at the Commonwealth Games that he opened, and I had a chance to have a conversation with him, as I do, if we can do that. He's a modern King. He is so supportive of our system of government. I have made sure that our office has kept in touch with his office about this terrible moment for Helen, and he is monitoring everything that's going on here. I think he is such a fine example of a head of state who embodies and models the very best of what it means to hold these positions.

Chris Kenny: You advised The King about the attack on Helen Haines. Have you heard anything back?

Governor-General: No. It's the Office that’s been in touch with the Palace. So, our Offices keep in touch with any matters like this. We're keeping him advised. Certainly, through Bondi, he was actively engaged. So, we, I spoke to him a number of occasions during the aftermath. He sent gifts to the two police officers who were injured in that event. We gave those gifts on his behalf with a note from him to those two officers who are doing really well now, who are both injured, as a mark of respect for them. And that was a genuine affection for Australia and our police force from The King. So, he cares deeply about those moments. And I'm sure right now he will be wanting us to continue the updates. And like me, my thoughts, yours, everyone watching, I'm sure, is, you know, Helen's critical condition at the moment, I just hope there is good news, but it has been a catastrophic incident, and that's why it is so shocking and so distressing for everybody.

Chris Kenny: Your Excellency, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, thanks for joining us.

Governor-General: Thanks for coming in, Chris.

Chris Kenny: Yeah. There you go. Sam Mostyn, trying to show a little bit of leadership and compassion at this difficult time for the country. Quick shout out to Sam Mostyn's father, Bill. Bill, thank you for your service to the nation, and thanks for being a regular viewer. We better go to a break now.

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