Speeches
Tuesday, 30 September 2025
Reception for Australasian Study of Parliament Group Annual Conference
My husband, Rod, and I warmly welcome you all to Government House, particularly our guests from interstate and overseas who have gathered for the Australasian Study of Parliament Group's annual conference.
As parliamentarians, parliamentary officers and academics, I know you are as one in your dedication to strengthening our democracy.
I thank you all for taking the time here in Adelaide to grow your knowledge, your networks, and to reinforce your commitment to robust discussion about our parliamentary institutions.
Parliament has been woven through parts of my life in ways I did not anticipate as a young person, watching my mother serve as a state parliamentarian and Minister.
Through my career as a public servant, as an advisor to ministers and the Prime Minister, and later as Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, I have witnessed parliament from every angle – among which I might single out Senate Estimates….
Now, as Governor, it is my privilege to execute my constitutional role by presiding over weekly Executive Council meetings, in the library, just to your left.
This experience has given me a deep appreciation for the vital role that robust parliamentary institutions play in our democracy, and I am heartened by the practical and scholarly work each of you contributes to this field.
One of my priority areas as Governor is civics and citizenship, which has taken Rod and me to schools across South Australia, has had us host receptions for our Youth Parliament, model United Nations, school leaders and debaters, and encourage young South Australians to become informed engaged citizens.
Along, I hope, with all South Australians, I take pride in South Australia's pioneering global role in parliamentary democracy.
Our parliament was among the first in the world to grant women both the right to vote and to stand for parliament, and we were the first parliament in Australia to pass groundbreaking anti-discrimination legislation.
Your conference theme, 'Modern Parliaments: Changing Roles, Expectations & Challenges', could not be more timely, as we navigate an era where trust in democratic institutions is being tested globally.
Against this backdrop of broader challenges to transparency, accountability and trust, your focus on rigorous research and thoughtful discussion about parliamentary institutions has never been more important.
I thank each of you for your contributions to these vital conversations.
I also thank the ASPG Executive for its work bringing together this conference, creating a forum where parliamentary practitioners and academics can share insights and forge new understandings.
The discussions you will engage in over the coming days – from adopting new technologies and combatting misinformation to modernising parliamentary procedures and enhancing workplace culture – are all topics of great importance to the future of our democratic institutions.
May your deliberations be productive, your conversations enriching, and may you leave Adelaide not only with new knowledge but with renewed commitment to the democratic ideals that bind us together across Australasia.