Add Category
Updated
Australia's next governor-general will be retired General David Hurley.
The current Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove, will retire when his five-year term ends in March next year.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison made the announcement from Parliament House in Canberra this morning.
Mr Hurley is a former senior Army officer and is the current Governor of New South Wales.
He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his leadership during Operation SOLACE in Somalia in 1993.
The ABC understands he was seen as a conservative and safe choice that would have bipartisan support.
Labor frontbencher Jim Chalmers said Labor welcomed the appointment, but was critical of the process.
"As I understand it, Bill Shorten was informed this morning of the decision but not consulted," Mr Chalmers said.
"That is the disappointing aspect of this.
"Ideally, so close to the election, the Opposition would have been properly consulted on this appointment, which is so important to Australia."
Topics: government-and-politics, federal-government, australia
First posted