The Governor General’s official secretary Stephen Brady was responding to a report in “The Australian” to correct media statements “related to the Government House Gift Register and other issues”.
“In the interests of full transparency and accountability, the Office [of the Official Secretary] publishes the Gifts Policy and register on its website. The policy has been in existence for many years, and is updated regularly,” the statement says.
“After the Governor-General commenced in her role the Office halved the threshold under which gifts may be retained from $2000 to $1000.
“This is consistent with the Commonwealth Government threshold of $750 and acknowledges the Governor-General’s position as Australia’s effective Head of State.
“The Governor-General has retained a small number of personal gifts, including from Her Majesty The Queen, President Obama and other foreign dignitaries.
“The statement that there is a ‘revolving door’ of staff departures is also incorrect. The staff turnover rate over the term of this Governor-General is around 16 per cent (around 30 per cent less than the two years prior to her commencement) and is considered low for a small agency.
The office also denied that an official portrait of Ms Bryce has been commissioned at taxpayer expense.
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