PROCLAMATION
WHEREAS Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, by Commission under Her Royal Sign Manual and the Great Seal of Australia dated 6 September 2014, appointed me, the Honourable Paul de Jersey, Companion of the Order of Australia, Governor of the State of Queensland, to administer the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia in the event of the absence out of Australia or the death, incapacity or removal of the Governor-General for the time being, or in the event of the Governor‑General having temporarily absented himself from office for any reason:
And whereas the Governor-General is from today absent out of Australia:
Now let it be known that, having taken the prescribed oaths, I have this day assumed the administration of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Signed and sealed with the
Great Seal of Australia
on 31 March 2015
Paul de Jersey
Administrator
By His Excellency’s Command
Tony Abbott
Prime Minister
Overview
The C2015G00465 proclamation document is an official notification concerning the administration of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia during the absence of the Governor-General. Enacted in 2015, this proclamation was introduced to ensure a seamless transition of governmental responsibilities when the Governor-General is unavailable, whether due to absence from Australia, death, incapacity, or removal from office. The administering of the government by the appointed Governor of a State, in this case, the Honourable Paul de Jersey, ensures continuity and stability in the administration of the Commonwealth. The proclamation outlines the authority of the appointed administrator, Paul de Jersey, who has assumed the administration of the government on behalf of the Governor-General as per the provisions of the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act. This measure was enacted by the Parliament of Australia and aims to maintain the effective governance of the nation during critical periods of the Governor-General's unavailability.
Scope and Application
The C2015G00465 Proclamation outlines the assumption of governmental responsibilities by the Honourable Paul de Jersey, as appointed by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second. It specifically applies to the circumstances where the Governor-General is temporarily absent from office, out of Australia, incapacitated, deceased, or removed. This proclamation designates Paul de Jersey as the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia under these conditions, ensuring a seamless transition and continuity of government. The jurisdictional reach of this Act is national, as it pertains to the governance of the entire Commonwealth of Australia. The proclamation itself does not extend its application through subordinate instruments but rather serves as a clear and direct statement of authority under specific circumstances.
Key Provisions
This proclamation outlines the assumption of governmental administration by the Honourable Paul de Jersey, who was appointed as the Governor of the State of Queensland and designated to act as the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia in certain specified circumstances. Specifically, this includes instances where the Governor-General is absent out of Australia or incapacitated, deceased, removed from office, or temporarily absent for any reason (Preamble). The key provision here is the formal announcement of the Administrator's assumption of office following the prescribed oaths, which signifies the transition of governmental power under these exceptional conditions.
The obligations imposed by this proclamation include the requirement for the Administrator to assume the administration of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia upon the specified conditions being met. The Administrator must take the prescribed oaths, a necessary step to legally validate the transfer of power and ensure continuity of government (Preamble). Additionally, the proclamation mandates that the Administrator act in accordance with the constitutional and legal frameworks governing the Commonwealth of Australia, maintaining the stability and functionality of the government during the absence or incapacity of the Governor-General.
There are no explicit offences, penalties, or civil or criminal consequences outlined in this proclamation for failing to comply with its provisions. However, any breach of the constitutional protocols or legal requirements during the Administrator's tenure would likely be subject to the broader legal and constitutional consequences as they pertain to the governance of the Commonwealth of Australia. The proclamation itself serves as a formal notification and does not detail specific sanctions for non-compliance, but it is understood that adherence to constitutional mandates is critical, and deviations could lead to legal repercussions under Australian law.