I,, AUST ALIA , j
PRIME MINISTER PRESS STATEUENT NO. 192
27 FEBRUARY 1974
APPOINTMENT OF GOVERNOR-GENERAL
It is announced today from Government House, Canberra,
that Her -Majesty The Queen has graciously approved the
appointment of the Hon. Sir John Kerr K. C. EI. G., to be
Governor-General of Australia. He will take up office at the
end of June this year when the present Governor-General,
Sir Paul Hasluck, relinquishes his appointment.
Sir John has been Chief Justice of New South V ales
and Lieutenant-Governor since 1972. He has had a distinguished
career in both the law and public administration.
After war service with the Secornd AIF Sir John
was the first Principal of the Australian School of Pacific
Administration. He then followed a distinguished career at
the Bar in New South Wales, becoming a Queen's Counsel in
1955. In 1966 he was acpointed a Judge of the Commonwealth
I dustrial Court and a Judge of the Supreme Court of the
Australian Capital Territory. He has also served as a
Judge of the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory and
has held other Australian judicial commissions.
Sir John has held a number of executive positions in
the legal profession, including President of the New South
Wales Bar Association, President of the Law Council of Australia
and foundation President of the Law Association of Asia and the
Western Pacific. He has also -served on a number of Government
bodies, including in 1968 as Chairman of the Committee on
Review of Administration Decisions, and in 1970 as Chairman of
the Committee on Review of Pay for the Armed Services. In
1971 he conducted an inquiry into the salaries and allowances
of Members of the Australian Parliament.
Sir John was appointed C. M. G. in 1966 and K. C. M. G.
this year. Sir John's significant attainments in the fields of
law and administration nave given him a familiarity with
2.
Australian Government and State Government affairs and he is,
of course, well known throughout Australia.
All Australians will join me in congratulating
Sir John and welcoming him and Lady Kerr to their high
appointments. CANBERRA. A. C. T.