Governor-General Quentin Bryce backs gay marriage, Australia becoming a republic in Boyer Lecture

Updated

Governor-General Quentin Bryce has publicly backed both Australia becoming a republic and gay marriage in a landmark speech in Sydney.

Ms Bryce, delivering the final Boyer Lecture of the year on Friday night, said she hoped Australia might become a nation where "people are free to love and marry whom they choose".

"And where perhaps, my friends, one day, one young girl or boy may even grow up to be our nation's first head of state," she said.

Ms Bryce was appointed as Australia's first female governor-general in 2008 by then prime minister Kevin Rudd.

While there is no set length for the appointment, most last around five years.

Ms Bryce spoke about the "persistent challenges" that remain in ensuring that "society is in a fit state to hand on to our children and our grandchildren".

Monarchy in Australia: where you stand

In the lead-up to the federal election, our Vote Compass tool measured Australian attitudes on major political and social policies.

With more than 1.4 million responses, the data showed support for a republic appeared to have waned since the 1999 referendum on the issue, with only 38 per cent in favour of cutting ties to the monarchy.

Another 20 per cent were neutral. The strongest support for change came from those over 55 years of age.

Vote Compass asked respondents for their view on the statement: "Australia should end the monarchy and become a republic."

Use our interactive charts to explore the response.

The governor-general is appointed by the Queen on the advice of the prime minister.

Support for marriage equality to send 'strong message'

Ms Bryce used her address to call for a nation where "an ethic of care guides the way we lead".

"Where the young, the elderly, Indigenous, the newly-arrived [and] people with disabilities are treated with dignity and respect and are able to be the best and healthiest they can be."

Fact file: Governors-General Quentin Bryce is the 25th governor-general and the first woman appointed to the post

Ms Bryce is a former lawyer, a former sex discrimination commissioner and former Queensland governor

She married Michael Bryce in 1964. They have five children and 10 grandchildren

Ms Bryce's predecessor Michael Jeffery is a major general. A brigadier general and a field marshal have also served as governor-general

Six barons, three viscounts, two earls and one prince have also held the position.

Marriage equality advocates hope the governor-general's support for gay marriage encourages more older Australians to back it.

Australian Marriage Equality's national director Rodney Croome says her backing is significant.

"The governor-general's support for marriage equality will send a strong message, particularly to older Australians, that this is a reform that they do not need to fear," he said.

"That it's a reform that they can embrace, because ultimately it's about reinforcing family values."

Speaking about the republican debate in 2008, Ms Bryce said that Australian society is "maturing and evolving" and that future debates about the head of state would be important.

"And I think we have a big responsibility to be very well informed about the evolution of the constitution."

Topics: government-and-politics, community-and-society, lgbt, family-and-children, marriage, republic, australia

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