Speech welcoming the Diplomatic Corps to Government House, Yarralumla
Simeon and I are very pleased to welcome you here to Government House.
When I was sworn in as Governor-General – just three weeks ago – it was wonderful to see so many of you in the Senate chamber.
Thank you for sharing that moment with me.
One of my earliest briefings as Governor-General was with Arthur – thank you, for so generously sharing your expertise with me about the extent and reach of the Diplomatic Corps in Australia.
I know Arthur and his team at DFAT are also enormously helpful to you in performing your duties.
Many of you may have seen the Lowy Institute’s Global Diplomacy Index, released early this year.
It delivers a compelling picture of the value that governments around the world place on the power of diplomacy.
While we learned during COVID that it is possible to interact effectively in a virtual world, the power and impact of a face-to-face meeting has no equal in building bonds of trust and friendship.
The unique moments shared when together are always the start of deeper relationships.
Your governments recognise this.
Your presence here confirms it.
And Australia welcomes you.
On behalf of all Australians, Simeon and I look forward to welcoming you many times during the next five years.
While this is by far the largest gathering that we have held at Government House since the start of my term, it is by no means the first.
In recent weeks, I have been delighted and entertained by a stream of school children from all parts of Australia visiting to learn about Australia’s democracy and the role of the Governor-General.
We have welcomed elders from the region’s Ngunnawal and Ngambri communities …
... shared a cup of tea and stories with mayors and councillors from places as diverse as Lismore and Arnhem Land …
… and been briefed by public servants …
… I have presided over meetings of the Federal Executive Council …
… travelled to Western Sydney to see more of the issues facing our communities, and celebrated the diversity of our population which represents so many diaspora communities …
… and travelled this last weekend to Darwin for Pitch Black, the multinational defence exercise, in which so many of your nations are participating.
What I’ve learned very quickly is that the role of the Governor-General is of welcome, peace and care.
And, here at Government House, hospitality and care for guests is central to the ceremonial and constitutional traditions and responsibilities we enact.
It is also a place of history and heritage and it has care for our institutions – and the democracy they enable and preserve – at its heart.
As members of the diplomatic corps, you are already familiar with Government House, having presented your credentials here.
And I hope you will continue to regard this place as representative of the very best of the Australian values of welcome and inclusion and care, of our celebration of diversity and optimism, and our fundamentally democratic spirit.
I look forward to many future opportunities to share with you the essence and distinctiveness of optimistic modern Australia.
Thank you.