Paul de Jersey

The Honourable
Paul de Jersey
AC, CVO, KC
Paul de Jersey in 2016
26th Governor of Queensland
In office
29 July 2014 – 1 November 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierCampbell Newman
Annastacia Palaszczuk
Preceded byPenelope Wensley
Succeeded byJeannette Young
17th Chief Justice of Queensland
In office
17 February 1998 – 8 July 2014
Nominated byRob Borbidge
Appointed byPeter Arnison representing Queen Elizabeth II
GovernorPeter Arnison (1997–2003)
Quentin Bryce (2003–08)
Penelope Wensley (2008–14)
Preceded byJohn Macrossan
Succeeded byTimothy Carmody
Personal details
Born (1948-09-21) 21 September 1948 (age 76)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
AwardsCompanion of the Order of Australia
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Knight of the Order of St John
Military service
AllegianceAustralia
Branch/serviceAustralian Army Reserve
Years of service1966–1971
RankLieutenant
UnitQueensland University Regiment

Paul de Jersey, AC, CVO, KC (born 21 September 1948) is an Australian jurist who served as the 26th governor of Queensland, from 29 July 2014 to 1 November 2021. He was Chief Justice of Queensland from 1998 to 2014.

Education

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De Jersey was educated at Anglican Church Grammar School (1961–1965) and the University of Queensland.[1] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws with Honours in 1971. He was part of the Queensland University Regiment from 1966 to 1971 and was commissioned in 1969.

Career

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De Jersey practiced law in Queensland and was called to the Queensland Bar in 1971, at the age of 23. At 33, he took silk in 1981 as a Queen's Counsel.[2]

At the Bar, De Jersey practiced in the commercial field; appeared in constitutional cases before the High Court of Australia, and also appeared before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. He was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland in 1985, at the age of 36, and was the commercial causes judge between 1986 and 1989.[2] De Jersey was the judge constituting the Mental Health Tribunal between 1994 and 1996, the president of the Queensland Industrial Court between 1996 and 1997, and the chairman of the Law Reform Commission of Queensland from 1996 to 1997.

De Jersey was appointed Chief Justice of Queensland on 17 February 1998, at 40 years, making him the second-youngest chief justice of Queensland, at the time.[2] He has been Chancellor of the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane since 1991. He was also Vice President of the Australian Cancer Society between 1995 and 1998 and its president between 1998 and 2001, a trustee of the National Breast Cancer Foundation between 1994 and 1999, and the chairman of the Queensland Cancer Fund (now the Cancer Council Queensland) between 1994 and 2001. He recently accepted the position of Chairman of School Council at his alma mater, Anglican Church Grammar School.[3]

Governor of Queensland

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De Jersey became the 26th governor of Queensland on 29 July 2014.[4] On the retirement of Alex Chernov as Governor of Victoria on 1 July 2015, de Jersey became the longest-serving sitting governor of an Australian state and by custom assumed the additional office of Administrator of the Commonwealth who exercises the powers of the Governor-General of Australia in the governor-general's absence or disability.[5]

In 2017 a German Shepherd named Gavel was appointed as the vice-regal dog of the governor, after failing to become a police dog due to a too friendly temperament.[6] A children's picture book was released in 2020 about his story, which was followed by his retirement in 2021.[7][8]

In November 2018, it was announced that de Jersey's original term had been extended by two years through to 29 July 2021.[9] In June 2021, it was announced that he would stay on until November to allow Jeannette Young, his successor, to focus on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout as Chief Health Officer, before taking up the role of governor.[10]

Personal life

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De Jersey married Kaye Brown in 1971. Together they have three children and three grandchildren.[11]

Titles, styles, and honours

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Viceregal styles of
Paul de Jersey
(2014–Present)
Reference styleHis Excellency the Honourable
Spoken styleYour Excellency

De Jersey's style and title as governor in full was: His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey, Companion of the Order of Australia, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight of Grace of the Order of St John, Queen's Counsel, Governor of the State of Queensland in the Commonwealth of Australia.[4]

  • As Administrator: His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey, Companion of the Order of Australia, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, Knight of Grace of the Order of St John, Queen's Counsel, Administrator of the Commonwealth of Australia.
Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) 12 June 2000[12]
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) 12 June 2021[13]
Knight of Grace of the Order of St John 19 November 2014
Centenary Medal 2003[4]
Australian Defence Medal

Honorary degrees

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Honorary appointments

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References

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Paul de Jersey.
  1. ^ Mason, James (2011). Churchie: The Centenary Register. Brisbane, Australia: The Anglican Church Grammar School. ISBN 978-0-646-55807-3.
  2. ^ a b c "His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC QC". The University of Queensland. Retrieved 3 May 2024.
  3. ^ Governance of School Council, Anglican Church Grammar SchoolArchived 3 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine, Churchie, 31 March 2023.
  4. ^ a b c d e f "His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland". PGovernment House Queensland. govhouse.qld.gov.au/. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  5. ^ Oath of Office as Administrator of the Commonwealth Archived 6 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine, ComLaw, 24 September 2014.
  6. ^ "Doggy dropout gets new vice-regal job at Queensland mansion". BBC News. 8 June 2017. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 15 November 2023.
  7. ^ Rosmalen, Wendy van (2020). Gavel Finds His Place. Illustrations by Amanda Letcher. Office of the Governor (Queensland). ISBN 9780646821665. Archived from the original on 15 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
  8. ^ A day in the life of Gavel, Queensland's Vice-Regal Dog, archived from the original on 15 November 2023, retrieved 15 November 2023
  9. ^ "Queensland Governor Paul de Jersey's term extended by two years". Queensland Government. 15 November 2018. Archived from the original on 1 February 2019. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Dr Jeannette Young Queensland's New Governor". Ministerial Media Statements. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  11. ^ "CV – His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC Governor of Queensland" (PDF). Government House Queensland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  12. ^ "de Jersey, Paul". Search Australian Honours. Australian Government. Archived from the original on 29 January 2019. Retrieved 5 March 2014.
  13. ^ "No. 63377". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 June 2021. p. B4.
  14. ^ "Understanding the Most Venerable Order of St John" (PDF). Governor of New South Wales. Governor of New South Wales. 12 December 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of Queensland
1998–2014 		Succeeded by
Government offices
Preceded by Governor of Queensland
2014–2021 		Succeeded by
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