On Wednesday 12 August 2009, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

In the afternoon, at the National Portrait Gallery, Canberra, the Governor-General, as a guest of the Chairman, Mr Tim Fairfax AM, toured the Vanity Fair Exhibition. Afterwards, at Government House, Canberra, the Governor-General received the Director of Queensland Advocacy Incorporated, Mr Kevin Cocks, with the Manager of the ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service, Ms Andrea Simmons. Earlier, at Parliament House, Canberra, Mr Michael Bryce AM AE attended the Built Environment Meets Parliament Conference and remained for lunch. In the evening, Mr Bryce, as Patron, hosted a reception for Regional Arts Australia.