(Transcript from World News Australia Radio)
The highly decorated, retired military officer is to replace Quentin Bryce as the Queen's representative in Australia from March.
He will become Australia's 26th Governor-General.
Amanda Cavill has the details.
(Click on audio tab above to hear full item)
General Peter Cosgrove has long been favoured to succeed Quentin Bryce as Australia's Governor General.
Widely respected for his strength, intelligence and compassion, General Cosgrove came to prominence in 1999, when he led the international peacekeeping mission in East Timor.
In 2001 he was named Australian of the Year.
He was appointed chief of the Army, and was named chief of the Defence Force in 2002 before retiring from active service in 2005.
In 2006, General Cosgrove was called on to lead the taskforce to rebuild communities in far north Queensland, following the devastation of category-five Cyclone Larry.
A Townsville suburb was named after him in 2008 in recognition of his work leading the rebuilding taskforce.
Since leaving the military he has also worked as a non-executive director of Qantas, and has chaired the South Australian Defence Industry Development Board and the aged services industry body, Leading Age Services Australia.
Tony Abbott says General Cosgrove is more than worthy of the honour.
"Throughout his life, he has demonstrated a commitment to our country and a commitment to service. He has given service of the very highest order to our country. I am confident that in this new role he will continue to deliver to a grateful nation leadership beyond politics. I am confident that Peter will discharge his responsibilities with vigour and with integrity."
The Governor-General has a wide range of powers, exercised under the authority of the Australian Constitution.
The functions and roles of the Governor General include appointing ambassadors, ministers and judges, giving Royal Assent to legislation, issuing writs for elections and bestowing honours.
The Governor General is also Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
In practice, the Governor-General follows the conventions of the Westminster system of parliament and acts only on the advice of the Prime Minister of Australia.
There have been only four exceptions when the Governor-General has exercised the reserve powers of the office, including the sacking of the Prime Minister in 1975.
Professor John Warhurst from the Australian National University says General Cosgrove is a sensible choice for the role.
Professor Warhurst, who is also Deputy Chair of the Australian Republican Movement, says Mr Abbott's decision to appoint General Cosgrove probably means the issue of Australia becoming a republic is off the agenda for the time being.
"He's been very careful about anything he's ever said about about the question of republican monarchy and he's someone who's been pretty mainstream as far as the issue is concerned. Tony Abbott, as a monarchist, would have been looking for someone who who wouldn't have been outspoken on the republican issue by any means. And I think that's just the 'safe pair of hands', as the phrase is sometimes used, that Tony Abbott would have been would have been looking for."
General Cosgrove says he is honoured and humbled to be invited to take one of the great constitutional offices of Australia's democracy.
He says he has no intention of politicising the office of Governor General during his term.
General Cosgrove says he believes the role of the Governor General is to reflect the will of the Australian people, not to use it for political purposes.
"I've been labelled as a staunch this and a staunch that and a closet something else in relation to all of these issues. I would say I'm a very staunch Australian. The will of the people is always the overriding governor of what my responses will be. I've served a particular system since I was a lad and if the Australian people retain that system, that will be my guiding light and it is now. If they ever change at some future time, then the will of the people will prevail."
Former Labor Minister for Justice, Jason Clare, has praised the appointment.
Mr Clare told Sky news General Cosgrove will make an excellent governor general.
"Peter Cosgrove is a great Australian. I think he'll be a first-class Governor General. And, it must be said, following in the footsteps of another first-class Governor General in Quentin Bryce. It shouldn't go unremarked that in this year, the centenary of World War One, that Peter Cosgrove will play a very important role, amongst others, in helping us to remember those important events."
Ms Bryce was appointed Governor General by former prime minister Kevin Rudd in 2007.
She is Australia's first female Governor General.
Share
