Central governmentAgencyExists today
Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
1984 – present
Statutory office that supports the Governor-General in carrying out official duties, manages Government House in Canberra and Admiralty House in Sydney, and administers the Australian honours and awards system.
How it came into existence
Established in 1984 as a statutory office under section 6 of the Governor-General Act 1974, as amended that year, continuing the Governor-General's Office, whose staff had until then been Commonwealth public servants. The Official Secretary employs the office's staff under the Act.
- Support for the Governor-General
- Administration of Australian honours
Legislation: Governor-General Act 1974
Main functions
- Support for the Governor-General's constitutional, ceremonial and community roles
- Management of the vice-regal properties
- Administration of the Australian honours and awards system
- Secretariat for the Council for the Order of Australia
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Accountable authority
- Official Secretary – Governor-General Act 1974 section 6(4)(b)
- ABN
- 67 582 329 284
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))
Government records and websites
Some dates or links for this organisation are not fully confirmed. Corrections are welcome.