Opposition Leader Peter Dutton approached Australia’s next governor-general for a photograph, just weeks after she issued a remarkably flat statement about her appointment.
Businesswoman Samantha Mostyn has been announced as replacing General David Hurley as the King’s representative in Australia when his term ends on July 1.
Mostyn’s commitment to an Indigenous voice in Parliament and his past experience working with the Labor Party sparked criticism from the conservative lobby group Advance.
Peter Dutton approached Australia’s next governor-general for a photograph, just weeks after he appeared unconcerned about her controversial appointment.
Sam Mostyn deleted her entire social media presence before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced her as David Hurley’s replacement on Wednesday morning.
Dutton offered a non-effusive statement about her appointment at the time, telling reporters: “(She is) someone who has been involved in business and sport for a long period of time.”
‘(She) is obviously well known to many people within the government over a long period of time.
“I wish him the best in his appointment.”
Her words were a far cry from the praise Mostyn was receiving from Labor politicians, who rattled off the long list of board positions she held and her legacy of championing women’s rights and climate change policy.
ABC analyst Annabel Crabb wrote: “As far as praise goes, it was the least I could do.”
“Literally, the bare minimum.”
Now, Dutton has posed for a photograph alongside Mostyn ahead of their official start date, smiling in front of the Australian flag, the Indigenous flag and the Torres Strait Island flag.
“Delighted to catch up with Australia’s Governor-General-designate Sam Mostyn AO today,” he tweeted.
“I wish him well in his appointment when he takes up the role in July and thank David Hurley AC DSC for his excellent service to our country.”
Mostyn will replace Governor General David Hurley (front) on July 1
Australia’s next Governor-General felt “unmoored” following the crushing defeat of the Indigenous Voice referendum to Parliament.
Mostyn deleted his social media presence before Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced his new role.
Albanese said: ‘Mrs Mostyn has had an extensive career in the Australian business community, including working at senior levels in telecommunications and insurance companies in Australia and around the world.
‘She also held senior non-executive positions on boards such as Transurban and Virgin Australia, and was chair of Citibank Australia. She currently chairs AWARE Super and Alberts Music Group and sits on the board of directors of Mirvac.
“Mrs Mostyn has been a commissioner of the Australian Football League (AFL) and a driving force behind the AFL Women (AFLW).”
The once prolific tweeter, who had 22,000 followers on X, deleted her X, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn accounts just before her appointment to the viceregal position.
But WhatsNew2Day Australia obtained a series of posts she had made over the years, offering insight into the politics of the woman now tasked with representing King Charles in Australia.
Ms Mostyn was a prominent supporter of Indigenous Voice in Parliament, organizing and participating in panels on the referendum alongside Yes campaigner Thomas Mayo.
She advocated for a Yes vote online, participated in Michael Long’s ‘Long Walk Oz’ to Canberra promoting the Indigenous advisory panel and joined virtual circles with Pat Anderson AO and Professor Megan Davis.
In a podcast interview with former Prime Minister Julia Gillard on December 14 last year, Mostyn lamented the defeat of Albanese’s plan to enshrine an indigenous advisory body in the constitution.
The Yes volunteers were devastated by the resounding No vote.
Australia’s new Governor-General referred to Australia Day as “invasion day” in a since-deleted tweet
“Frankly, after the referendum I felt completely liberated,” Ms Mostyn said.
‘I thought maybe we were a big enough nation and there was enough understanding to take that step.
“There are all kinds of reasons why that hasn’t happened.”
Mrs Mostyn added that she “would like to [she’d] We grew up in a time when we were told the truth.
The main image on their X account was, for a long period of time, a sign saying “we support the Uluru Declaration”.
Lobby group Advance criticized the quote following the WhatsNew2Day Australia article, describing it as “an insult to the majority of Australians”.
‘Mostyn is the worst kind of corporate activist who campaigned against the majority of Australians in the divisive Voice referendum.
‘The appointment of the Prime Minister… confirms that he cares more about activists and elites than about the people who work hard to make this nation great.
“If Australians want to see an example of the left marching through our institutions, this is it, right in front of us.”
Advance described the appointment as “deeply political” and said the position should have gone to someone who was “apolitical.”