On Wednesday 24 April 2013, at Admiralty House, Sydney, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

Afterwards, at St Mary’s Cathedral, the Administrator, accompanied by Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE, read the First Lesson at the ANZAC Eve Requiem Commemoration for those who died in war, followed by a reception in Cathedral House.

The Governor-General visited the site of the Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Processing Plant, which is currently under construction on the Gulf of Papua northwest of Port Moresby.

Ms Bryce received a briefing on the facility before viewing the construction site. The project also includes production and processing facilities in the Southern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, which will be operational in 2014.

Staff of a health centre dedicated to treating cases of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS received a visit from the Governor-General on her third day of a State Visit to Papua New Guinea.

Representatives from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, World Vision, the Papua New Guinean Government, St John’s and AusAID welcomed Ms Bryce to the Gerehu Health Centre before she was introduced to staff and patients.

At Parliament House in Waigani, the Governor-General hosted a roundtable meeting with prominent Papua New Guinean women to discuss issues including violence against women, increasing leadership opportunities for women and political participation.

On Tuesday 23 April 2013, at Government House, Sydney, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, as part of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Special Visits Program, received the Advisor to the President of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Lebanon, Mr Ziad Mikati.

Afterwards, in Penrith, the Administrator, as Patron, officially opened the Sydney Cochlear Implant Centre.

The Governor-General was welcomed to East New Britain Province on the second day of a State Visit to Papua New Guinea.

Ms Bryce was ceremonially welcomed to Kokopo before visiting the Butuwin Urban Clinic, which provides general medical services to residents in the region.

During the visit, the Governor-General presented the Sister in Charge of the Clinic, Sister Connie Wuki, with medical supplies on behalf of the people of Australia.

Over 1000 students received a special visit from the Governor-General when she arrived at Kokopo Primary School.

After being welcomed by students and teachers, Ms Bryce addressed a school assembly and presented new books to the School Captains.

The Governor-General was invited to plant a tree to commemorate her visit and later met students in their classrooms.

The Governor of East New Britain Province, the Hon Leo Dion and the Governor-General attended a lunch in Kokopo in honour of her visit

Marking the historic defence links between Australian and Papua New Guinea, the Governor-General laid a wreath at the Rabaul ‘Bita Paka’ War Cemetery in honour of the Australian military personnel and local civilians who died alongside each other during World War II.

Australian Defence Force member Lieutenant-Colonel Steve McConnell welcomed Ms Bryce to the War Cemetery and escorted her to the graves of Able Seaman G V Williams, Australia’s first casualty of World War I, and Sister Verdun Sheah, who died in an RAAF aircraft accident in 1945.

On Monday 22 April 2013, following the departure of the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO to undertake a State Visit to the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, the Proclamation assuming the Administration of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia was signed by the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO.

Afterwards, in the Stranger’s Dining Room, Parliament House, Sydney, the Administrator attended the Barnardo’s Australia Mother of the Year 2013 NSW State Awards Ceremony.