On Thursday 16 October 2008, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

Afterwards, at the Melbourne Law School, University of Melbourne, Victoria, the Governor-General officially launched the book based on the review by Professor Ross Garnaut AO, titled The Garnaut Climate Change Review. Later, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General received the Chief of Air Force, Air Marshal Mark Binskin AM. In the evening, in the Great Hall, University House, the Australian National University, the Governor-General delivered the inaugural Families Australia Oration.