Federal Executive Council; Swearing-in of newly appointed Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries; Memorial Service for Ms Katrina Dawson

On Tuesday 23 December 2014, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Retd) received the Prime Minister, the Honourable Tony Abbott MP.

Afterwards, the Governor-General presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council and signed the instruments 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 presided at a ceremony to issue the Oaths and Affirmation of Office and Executive Councillor Oaths to newly appointed Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries: the Honourable Christopher Pyne MP, Minister for Education and Training; the Honourable Scott Morrison MP, Minister for Social Services; the Honourable Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry and Science; the Honourable Kevin Andrews MP, Minister for Defence; the Honourable Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection; the Honourable Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health and Minister of Sport; Senator the Honourable Simon Birmingham, Assistant Minister for Education and Training; the Honourable Josh Frydenberg MP, Assistant Treasurer; the Honourable Steven Ciobo MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade and Investment; the Honourable Christian Porter MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister; the Honourable Bob Baldwin MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment; Senator the Honourable Scott Ryan, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education and Training; the Honourable Kelly O’Dwyer MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer; and the Honourable Karen Andrews MP, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Industry and Science.

In the afternoon, in the Great Hall, University of Sydney, the Governor-General attended a memorial service for the late Ms Katrina Dawson.