Federal Executive Council; Swearing-in ceremony of new Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries; Bankstown Girls High School Presentation Assembly

On Wednesday 14 December 2011, at Admiralty House, Sydney, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO received the Prime Minister, the Honourable Julia Gillard MP.

Afterwards, the Governor-General presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council and signed the instruments establishing and re-naming Departments of State. Then, the Governor-General signed instruments of appointment of Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries to their respective new offices.

Later, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce attended a ceremony at which the Governor-General issued the Oaths and Affirmations of Office and Executive Councillor Affirmation to the newly appointed Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries: Senator the Honourable Chris Evans, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research; the Honourable Simon Crean MP, Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, and Minister for the Arts; the Honourable Nicola Roxon MP, Attorney-General; the Honourable Jenny Macklin MP, Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, and Minister for Disability Reform; the Honourable Robert McClelland MP, Minister for Emergency Management, Minister for Housing, and Minister for Homelessness; the Honourable Greg Combet AM MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, and Minister for Industry and Innovation; the Honourable Tanya Plibersek MP, Minister for Health; the Honourable Bill Shorten MP, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, and Minister for Financial Services and Superannuation; the Honourable Mark Butler MP, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, and Minister for Social Inclusion; the Honourable Brendan O'Connor MP, Minister for Human Services; Senator the Honourable Kim Carr, Minister for Manufacturing, and Minister for Defence Materiel; Senator the Honourable Mark Arbib, Assistant Treasurer, Minister for Small Business, and Minister for Sport; the Honourable Kate Ellis MP, Minister for Employment Participation, and Minister for Early Childhood and Childcare; the Honourable Gary Gray AO MP, Special Minister of State, and Minister for the Public Service and Integrity; the Honourable Jason Clare MP; Minister for Home Affairs, and Minister for Justice; the Honourable Julie Collins MP, Minister for Community Services, Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, and Minister for the Status of Women; the Honourable Mike Kelly AM MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Defence; the Honourable Mark Dreyfus QC MP, Cabinet Secretary, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, and Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Innovation; and the Honourable Sid Sidebottom MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Earlier, at Bankstown Sports Club, the Governor-General and Mr Bryce, as guests of the Principal, Mrs Betty Harper, attended the Bankstown Girls High School presentation assembly at which the Governor-General delivered an address and presented the Dux of year 10 and 12 awards.