David Hurley

Early life and education

David John Hurley was born on 26 August 1953 in Wollongong, New South Wales, to Norma and James Hurley. His father was an Illawarra steelworker and his mother worked in a grocery store. Hurley grew up in Port Kembla and attended Port Kembla High School, where he completed his Higher School Certificate in 1971. He subsequently graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon with a Graduate Diploma in Defence Studies, and from Deakin University with a Bachelor of Arts.

Hurley is married to Linda ( McMartin) and has three children.

Military career

Hurley entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, as an officer cadet in January 1972. On graduating from Duntroon in December 1975, he was commissioned a lieutenant in the Royal Australian Infantry Corps. His initial posting was to the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1RAR). Promoted to captain, he was appointed adjutant of the Sydney University Regiment before becoming regimental adjutant of the Royal Australian Regiment. He went on exchange to the 1st Battalion, Irish Guards, a British Army unit, before serving with 5th/7th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment.

Promoted to lieutenant colonel, Hurley was posted as the Senior Career Adviser (Armour, Artillery, Engineers and Infantry) in the Office of the Military Secretary in 1990, appointed SO1 (Operations) Headquarters 2nd Division in early 1991, and in November 1991 assumed command of 1RAR, which he led during Operation Solace in Somalia in 1993. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his service during this deployment.

Following promotion to colonel, Hurley was appointed Chief of Staff, Headquarters 1st Division in June 1994, attended the United States Army War College from 1996 to 1997, became Military Secretary to Chief of Army, and was posted to Australian Defence Headquarters as Director of Preparedness and Mobilisation in December 1997. As a brigadier, he assumed command of the 1st Brigade in Darwin in January 1999. During this period he oversaw the brigade's transition to a higher degree of operational readiness and its support to Australian–led operations in East Timor. He went on to be Director General Land Development within Capability Systems in January 2001.

Hurley was promoted to major general in 2001 and served as Head Capability Systems Division from July 2001, and as Land Commander Australia from December 2002.

Hurley was promoted to general and succeeded Air Chief Marshal Angus Houston as Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) on 4 July 2011. Hurley retired from the Australian Army on 30 June 2014, and was succeeded as CDF by Air Chief Marshal Mark Binskin.

Lieutenant General David Morrison, the 2016 Australian of the Year, credited Hurley with the phrase "the standard you walk past is the standard you accept" in his anti-misogyny speech, which became "one of the most quoted phrases" of Morrison's speech.

Governor of New South Wales

On 5 June 2014, New South Wales Premier Mike Baird announced that Hurley would replace Dame Marie Bashir as Governor of New South Wales: he was sworn in on 2 October 2014 after Bashir's term as governor had expired. On 17 March 2015, he was invested as a Knight of the Order of St John by the Lord Prior of the Order, Neil Conn, at a ceremony at Government House, Sydney.

Governor-General of Australia

On 16 December 2018, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved the appointment of Hurley as the next Governor-General of Australia, succeeding Sir Peter Cosgrove, commencing on 1 July 2019 marking him as the first representative of the monarch who had been born during the latter's reign. Margaret Beazley was designated as his replacement as Governor of New South Wales. Hurley was sworn in as the 27th Governor-General at Parliament House, Canberra, on 1 July 2019. His first words were spoken in the language of the local Aboriginal people, the Ngunnawal language.

On 11 September 2019, when attending an Indonesian national day reception held by the Indonesian Embassy at the Australian National Gallery in Canberra, Hurley opted to make his address to the reception in Indonesian.

On 18 March 2020, The Biosecurity (Human Biosecurity Emergency) (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential) Declaration 2020 was declared by Hurley under Section 475 of the Biosecurity Act 2015.

During his tenure, Hurley promoted a leadership program to Morrison. The program — Australian Future Leaders Foundation Limited — was given $18 million in funding, despite having no office, online website or staff. This funding was cancelled by the Albanese government in September 2022, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers stating that it "didn't pass muster" or represent "value for money". Chalmers stated that there would not be an investigation into Hurley's role in the program.

Hurley was involved in the Scott Morrison ministerial positions controversy when he secretly appointed Morrison to five ministerial positions between March 2020 and May 2021. Hurley was found to have no discretion to refuse Morrison's advice and an inquiry considered criticism of Hurley's role to be "unwarranted".

In June 2022 Hurley apologised for providing a testimonial for a builder who had renovated his private house. This testimonial was used by the builder in their advertising.

Honours and awards

;Badges

• Infantry Combat Badge

Honorary degrees

• New South Wales 2013: Honorary Doctor of Letters (D.Litt.) by the University of Wollongong.
• New South Wales 2015: Honorary Doctorate of the University (D.Univ.) by the University of New South Wales.
• New South Wales 2017: Honorary Doctorate of the University (D.Univ.) by Macquarie University.

Honorary appointments

• Australia 2008–2019: Honorary Colonel of the Sydney University Regiment.
• Australia 2014–2019: Chief Scout of Scouts Australia NSW.
  • 2019–2024: Chief Scout of Australia
• Australia 2014–2019: Honorary Colonel of the Royal New South Wales Regiment.
• [[File:Ensign of the Royal Australian Air Force.svg|22px]] 2014–2019: Honorary Air Commodore of No. 22 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force.
• United Kingdom 2014–2019: Deputy Prior of the Order of St John.
  • 2019–2024: Prior of the Order of St John
• New South Wales 2014–2019: Governor of the New South Wales Police Force.
• Australia 2016: Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (Hon.FTSE).
• Australia 2019–2024: Patron of Rugby Australia.
• Australia 2019–2024: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
• Australia 2019–2024: Colonel of the Regiment of the Royal Australian Regiment
• Australia 2025–: Chancellor of the Australian University of Theology

Other appointments

Hurley is an Honorary Patron of the ACT Veterans Rugby Club, Patron of Transport Heritage NSW, Patron of the Australian World Orchestra, and the Australian Future Leaders Foundation.

he is one of three patrons of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation.

Coat of arms

A coat of arms was created for David Hurley in his capacity as Governor of New South Wales in 2019.

References

References

1. Massola, James. (1 June 2011). "David Hurley is made new defence force chief as part of sweeping renewal of top brass". News Limited.
2. "The Governor-General's biography {{!}} His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd)".
3. "General David Hurley". Lowy Institute.
4. "General David Hurley, AC, DSC". [[Department of Defence (Australia).
5. In 1994 he became SO1 (Operations), Headquarters [[1st Division (Australia). link. (21 March 2012 , LTGEN General David Hurley, 29 May 2006, Melbourne Convention Centre, www.siaa.asn.au)
6. [http://www.aph.gov.au/house/committee/jfadt/dialog/dial_ap2.pdf List of Witnesses at Public Hearings] {{Webarchive. link. (7 June 2011 , Parliament House Canberra, 16 April 1998, www.aph.gov.au)
7. Promoted to [[Lieutenant general (Australia). lieutenant general]], he assumed the new appointment of [[Chief of Capability Development Group]] in December 2003, went on to take the newly separated appointment of [[Chief of Joint Operations (Australia). Chief of Joint Operations]] in September 2007, and became [[Vice Chief of the Defence Force (Australia). Vice Chief of the Defence Force]] in July 2008.[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/newsevents/news/newsrecords/2010/Nov/GeneralSirJohnHackettCentenaryLectures.aspx Hackett Centenary Lectures] {{Webarchive. link. (5 May 2011 , King's College London, 12 November 2010, www.kcl.ac.uk)
8. In January 2012 Hurley completed 40 years service to the [[Australian Defence Force]], and on 20 January while in Paris, he was presented with the insignia for Officer of the [[Legion of Honour]] by the French CDF. In February, he was presented with a fifth clasp to the [[Defence Force Service Medal]] in recognition of his 40 years of service.Army News, February 2012, ''defence.gov.au''. Department of Defence of Australia
9. "Chief of Defence Force change of command". Department of Defence of Australia.
10. Aubusson, Kate. (1 February 2016). "David Morrison defends Australian of the Year honour on Q&A". [[The Age]].
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16. (13 January 2019). "Appointment of The Honourable Justice Margaret Beazley QC AO as Governor". [[Government of New South Wales]].
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21. (8 April 2022). "Governor-General personally lobbied Scott Morrison about leadership program given $18m in funding". ABC News.
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25. (25 November 2022). "Former prime minister Scott Morrison's secret ministries were unnecessary, Virginia Bell's inquiry finds".
26. (29 June 2022). "Governor general David Hurley apologises for video praising builder who renovated his home". The Guardian.
27. [https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1141684 It's an Honour] {{Webarchive. link. (11 April 2023 – Companion of the Order of Australia – 26 January 2010
    Citation: ''For eminent service to the Australian Defence Force as Chief of Capability Development Group, Chief of Joint Operations and Vice Chief of the Defence Force.'')
28. [https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1055967 It's an Honour] {{Webarchive. link. (11 April 2023 – Officer of the Order of Australia – 26 January 2004
    Citation: ''For distinguished service, leadership and management to the Australian Defence Force in senior command and staff appointments.'')
29. "No. 64423". The London Gazette.
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31. [http://www.defence.gov.au/leaders/chief/images/20110701adf8550446_0002.jpg Official High Resolution Photo], July 2011, www.defence.gov.au {{webarchive. link. (27 February 2012)
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34. [https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-26/general-hurley-pleased-accusations-against-general/5284912 ABC News, General Hurley 'pleased' accusations against General Campbell were withdrawn] {{Webarchive. link. (11 April 2023 retrieved 16 December 2018)
35. Bintang Yudha Dharma Utama is also translated as "The Grand Meritorious Military Order – 1st Class" – [http://www.asiaone.com/News/Latest%2BNews/Singapore/Story/A1Story20120502-343471.html Chief of Defence Force receives Indonesia's highest military award] {{Webarchive. link. (5 April 2022 , AsiaOne, 2 May 2012)
36. [http://www.defence.gov.au/defencenews/stories/2012/nov/1120a.htm Defence News] {{Webarchive. link. (28 November 2012 – Defence Meritorious Service Star – 19 November 2012)
37. link. (24 September 2015 , Sekretariat Negara Republik Indonesia Official Website, www.setneg.go.id)
38. Top military award conferred on Australian Chief of the Defence Force – [http://www.singapore.embassy.gov.au/sing/ahcsg_130213_article_militaryaward.html Top military award conferred on Australian Chief of the Defence Force] {{Webarchive. link. (1 March 2017 , Australian High Commission, Singapore, 13 February 2013)
39. [https://ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/1965636.pdf ประกาศสํานกนายกร ั ัฐมนตร เรื่อง พระราชทานเครื่องราชอิสริยาภรณ์ให้แก่นายทหารต่างประเทศ] {{Webarchive. link. (7 May 2023 [Announcement from the Prime Minister] (in Thai))
40. (19 May 2022). "Canberra, Australian Capital Territory; Dili, The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste".
41. "GG presents 1 RAR with MUC". Governor General of Australia.
42. "Honorary Doctorate Recipients – General David Hurley AC DSC". University of Wollongong.
43. (11 December 2015). "Houston, Hurley receive honorary doctorates". University of New South Wales.
44. (18 April 2017). "AUTUMN GRADUATION SEASON COMMENCES WITH HONORARY DOCTORATE AWARDED". Macquarie University.
45. (30 January 2018). "Vice-regal Program – Tuesday, 30 January 2018". Office of the Governor.
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50. (12 December 2014). "Understanding the Most Venerable Order of St John".
51. (2012). "Review the Attestation Parade for Class 323".
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53. (23 August 2019). "Governor-General the Hon David Hurley named patron of Australian Rugby".
54. (19 August 2025). "Appointments & Achievements".
55. "ACT Veterans Rugby".
56. (7 April 2022). "Scott Morrison supported $18m charity before it was formally registered, director says". Sydney Morning Herald.
57. (1 July 2019). "Patrons - About".
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59. "Gnomes, tea cosies and George — this GG's a Bunnies tragic". [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney).