Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Assistant Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

We understand and empathise with the motivations behind this motion. However, at the same time, we must be very careful in relation to any decision we make in relation to the position of the Governor-General, the highest office of our land. We must be very careful not to make decisions which inappropriately undermine the independence of that very high office. Benefits under the Governors-General Pension Scheme are governed by the Governor-General Act 1974. There is no provision under that act for the government or another authority to take a decision to cancel a former Governor-General's pension. The government is not proposing to amend that act.