On Friday 31 October 2008, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

Afterwards, the Governor-General received the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Michael L'Estrange AO. Earlier, at Darwin International Airport, the Governor-General was represented at the departure from Australia of the President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, His Excellency Dr Jose Ramos-Horta, by Group Captain Peter Viggers ADC, an Honorary Aide-de-Camp.