FOR PRESS 14 JULY 1977
RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL
AND APPOINTMENT OF HIS SUCCESSOR
The following announcement has been made from Buckingham Palace
" It is announced from Buckingham Palace
that The Queen has accepted the resignation
of The Right Honourable Sir John Kerr,
G. C. V. O. K. St. J. Q. C. as
Governor-General of Australia, with effect
from December, 1977.
On the advice of the Prime Minister of
Australia, Her Majesty has been graciously
pleased to approve the appointment of
Sir Zelman Cowen, as
Governor-General, to succeed Sir John Kerr."
Canberra
PRIME MINISTER
FOR PRESS 14 JULY 1977
RESIGNATION OF THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL
The announcement of Her Majesty's acceptance of Sir John Kerr's
resignation as Governor-General of Australia is occasion for
me to record publicly, with respect and appreciation Australia's
debt to Sir John for his service in high office, inciuding
through a difficult period in Australia's constitutionall istory.
Sir John will relinquish his appointment in December after
more than hree years as Governor-General and after service
under two Governments. In that period he has travelled
widely in Australia and, with Lady Kerr, has associated his
office with community groups and state and national associations
across the whole spectrum of Australian life. It is also
appropriate for me to place on record Sir John's work as first
Chancellor of the Order of Australia.
Sir John steps down because he himself has asked leave to do so.
He feels that the events of 1975 and the association of his
office with issues of state which arose at that time evoked
partisan feelings in the Australian community which have now
substantially subsided but which nevertheless left feelings
which might be resolved more quickly if he now makes way for
a successor. He believes too that he ha s completed an important
phase in his own life.
Focus. on controversial issues at times has tended to obscure
the measure of support that Sir John has always had, and the
office of Governor-General has always had, from the large
majority of the Australian community. It is to the great
credit of both Sir John and Lad y Kerr that extreme elements
in the community were faced up to and overcome an~ d both can
look back on this with a sense of satisfaction and achievement.
Sir John's leadership was a service to his office, to the
Monarchy, and to the country.
No Governor-General could have relished the position that
Sir John found himself in in 1975 but it must be accepted
that in the constitutional circumstances then existing Sir John
acted in the only way that the high duties of his office
allowed him to act. ,1jjAL8WL1( A
2.
Sir John's request now to relinquish his appointment and.
the reasons that have led him to this decision accord with
the high sense of public responsibility and statesmanship
that he has always demonstrated. He maintained a dignity
and purpose in his appointment and history will come
increasingly to recognise the debt that Australia owes to
his resoluteness in public office.
In his term as Governor-General Sir John has had the respect
of people from all walks of Australian life and he has with
the support of Lady Kerr undertaken his duties at all times
with the highest responsibility.
Australia and Australians are grateful to Sir John and we
extend best wishes to him and to Lady Kerr.
Canberra