David Hurley named as next governor-general

Retired Australian Army General David Hurley has been named as the 27th Governor-General of Australia.

Hurley joined the Australian Army in 1972. His career spanned 42 years and included various senior appointments in the Army and ADF. He served as Chief of the Defence Force between 2011 and his retirment in 2014, after which he was appointed Governor of New South Wales.

During the announcement, Prime Minister Scott Morrison has praised Hurley's lifetime of service to Australia:

 “General Hurley has served Australia for almost half a century and I’ve had the privilege to serve with him as a minister of a government in which he serve as the Chief of the Defence Force ... It was General Hurley who first spoke the words, ‘The standard you walk past, is the standard you accept’. That is a lesson to all of us. It is a phrase that embodies what Australian leadership is all about and it is a phrase that has embodied the service of General Hurley.”

When he assumes the role in June 2019, Hurley will be the third Governor-General out of the last four incumbents to have enjoyed long and distinguished careers in the ADF.

What are your thoughts on former military leaders serving as Governors-General? Share your thoughts by commenting below.