Swearing-in Ceremony for new Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries; Briefing at the Australian Antarctic Division; Dinner with the Governor of Tasmania

On Monday 4 February 2013, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO and Michael Bryce AM AE, received the Prime Minister, the Honourable Julia Gillard MP.

Afterwards, 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 to the newly appointed Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries: the Honourable Christopher Eyles Bowen MP, Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research, and Minister for Small Business; the Honourable Mark Christopher Butler MP, Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Minister for Social Inclusion, and Minister for Housing and Homelessness; the Honourable Brendan Patrick John O’Connor MP, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship; the Honourable Mark Alfred Dreyfus QC MP, Attorney-General, and Minister for Emergency Management; the Honourable Jason Dean Clare MP, Cabinet Secretary, Minister for Home Affairs, and Minister for Justice; the Honourable Dr Michael Joseph Kelly AM MP, Minister for Defence Materiel; Mrs Yvette Maree D’Ath MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency; Ms Melissa Parke MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Mental Health, and Parliamentary Secretary for Homelessness and Social Housing; and Mr Kelvin John Thomson MP, Parliamentary Secretary for Trade.

Then, at the Australian Antarctic Division, Kingston, the Governor-General, as guest of the Director, Dr Tony Fleming, attended a briefing on the Australian Antarctic program.

Afterwards, at Government House, Hobart, the Governor-General attended a dinner with the Governor of Tasmania, His Excellency the Honourable Peter Underwood AC, and Mrs Frances Underwood.

Earlier, at Government House, Canberra, Mr Bryce, received Historian, Mr Allan Blankfield OAM.