The governor-general on Australia’s ‘serious challenges’, the Voice, and the King’s visit
October 17, 2024
Australia’s Governor-General, Samantha Mostyn, is the second woman to hold the position. Source: SBS News
Australians have been navigating several “seriously challenging matters” this year, from the cost of living to conflict in the Middle East, but the country’s Governor-General Sam Mostyn is hopeful of an “optimistic” path forward.
Reflecting on her first one hundred days in the role, Mostyn spoke to SBS News about Australia’s social cohesion, which has come under strain in recent months, the
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“I was acutely aware when I was sworn in just over three months ago that there were a number of seriously challenging matters going on across our communities,” she said.
“We’d come out of COVID-19, there were lots of mental health strains. It was then an economic challenge, and [there were] many cost of living challenges right across the country for many. Then, of course, a conflict in the Middle East that causes trauma and anxiety for so many parts of the country, in addition to those matters in Ukraine.
“We’re a diaspora community, so these matters have really impacted many of the communities here.”
‘People are feeling the strain of our times’
As part of her role, Mostyn said she spends time with communities “where she sees the very best of social cohesion”.
“I meet often with young leaders from multicultural communities who have a very clear-eyed vision of what is essential for cohesion,” she said.
But she acknowledged these recent challenges, which are impacting different communities.
While there are multiple definitions of social cohesion, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare states it is an important “determinant of well-being”, indicating to what extent a society is “integrated or divided”.
The Scanlon Foundation Research Institute has been measuring social cohesion since 2007, intending to learn more about the transition of migrants into Australian society. It identified five key domains of social cohesion: worth, social justice, acceptance, belonging, and participation.
Speaking in August, Mike Burgess, director-general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, said the
Mostyn said moving through such challenges requires respect “that people are feeling the strain of our times” along with a path forward that has optimism and success “at its core”.
“That’s where I think the notion of care comes in. If we care for the way in which we negotiate, the way in which we handle some of these tough issues, we’re understanding of each other,” she said.
She said matters that undermine social cohesion must be met with listening and respect.
“I think that’s where we need to pay attention to learning to listen to one another, to show respect to the views we may not agree with, to always avoid falling into the trap of violence and ranker and showing care in the way we conduct ourselves, despite those difficult conditions,” Mostyn said.
“To know that there is a great deal of optimism and a great deal of things to look forward to for this country.
“But it is the way in which we lean into that, and we think about that constructively, collaboratively across communities and reflect on the deep strength this country has — from 65,000 years of Indigenous history, our British institutions and the laws and the system of parliament and democracy that we have and the extraordinary value and impact and success of a multicultural Australia.”
Indigenous Australians mark one year since failed Voice referendum
The governor-general reflected on the first anniversary of the Voice referendum, marked this week, saying now is the time for listening.
Just over 60 per cent of Australians voted No to enshrining an Indigenous Voice in the constitution, with every state and territory excluding the ACT rejecting the proposal.
“It was an important time to reflect on a year’s time that has passed since the referendum itself,” Mostyn said.
“I spent that time listening to those Indigenous people for whom the referendum held such hope and optimism. And I reflect on the fact that many are still hurting, and there’re many conversations that are taking place about the way forward.”
Mostyn said the Voice referendum “taught us a lot about why we need to care about institutions, how we vote when asked to give a view and how we think about the way we form our views”.
She served on the Reconciliation Australia board for several years.
“I think this is a moment to do some listening, some reflection, to show care and kindness for First Nations people,” she said.
“I’ve learned more by just spending time as friends, sharing meals, sharing conversation, sharing each other’s stories. That moment of care and listening and understanding about First Nations people, I think, is the first step on any road towards a form of reconciliation.”
The King’s visit — and a ‘modern Australia’
Mostyn welcomed the upcoming royal visit from King Charles and Queen Camilla, who are due to arrive in Sydney on Friday.
“It’s a very short visit, but one that both he and her Majesty are spending time deep in the community. They’re seeing the very best of our scientists, our creatives, those that work in community sustainability,” she said.
“In that context, the conversations I’ll be having with the King really go to showing him a modern Australia.”
The visit has resurfaced some debate about Australia’s future and the prospect of becoming a republic.
A letter from Charles to the Australian Republic Movement in March was publicly reported this week, in which he said becoming a republic is “a matter for the Australian public to decide”.
When asked whether such issues would be discussed during this visit, Mostyn said: “I don’t think that there’ll be much conversation about the matters that you raise.”
“He [Charles] has said in that letter, I understand, that decisions about the future constitutional arrangements are matters for the Australian public, and I fully support that.
“Should there ever be a moment where the public seeks to have that question asked again, that is a matter for all Australians.”
Australians voted on becoming a republic in 1999 when the idea was rejected.
Mostyn described Charles as a “modern King” who “cares about the way Australians want this country to proceed”.
Ultimately, she said an important part of her role is balancing “those things that could possibly cause division” and “lifting us to those things that unite us”.
“I think coming through a tough time, care provides the pathway to building a sense of a positive future.”
SBS With additional reporting from Sandra Fulloon and Nicola McCaskill.
