Patronage or Partisanship?

During this Estimates session, I questioned the Office of the Governor-General regarding their association with the political activist group Equality Australia.

My primary concern is the perceived loss of neutrality for the Governor-General’s office. I asked Mr. Martin how the Governor-General can justify being a patron of an organisation that advocates for irreversible gender treatments for children — positions that are political and non-neutral.

While Mr. Martin claimed patronage is “purely honorary,” I argue that it lends the credibility of the office to Equality Australia, effectively amplifying their specific political messaging.

I attempted to get to why Assistant Charities Minister Andrew Leigh intervened to grant Equality Australia charity status, despite multiple court and tribunal rulings finding they were not established for a benevolent purpose.

I raised the issue of Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status, which allows donors tax deductions. It’s my view that giving this status to such a group is a massive “favour” that warrants serious scrutiny.

Mr. Martin insisted that the Governor-General does not support specific advocacy positions of her patronages, though he did admit these matters are “always under review.”

I’m concerned that I did not get clear answers regarding this issue.

— Senate Estimates | February 2026

Transcript

Senator ROBERTS: Thank you for appearing tonight. Australia’s Governor-General is supposed to be neutral as to taking political positions. My first question is: how is it that the Governor-General can be a patron of a political activist group, Equality Australia, that actively supports irreversible gender treatments for children?  

Mr Martin: The Governor-General is patron of around 209 organisations, at this point. The patronage is a purely honorary role. The Governor-General has no role in making decisions around policies or positions taken by the individual patronages. It’s purely an honorary position.  

Senator ROBERTS: Thank you for your answer and for being brief. Isn’t it that she lends her credibility or the office’s credibility to Equality Australia just by being a patron?  

Mr Martin: Yes, broadly speaking, the role of a patronage is to amplify the message of the organisation and to elevate it, to some extent, in their broad goals. But, again, the Governor-General’s patronage does not provide support for any position or support advocacy of any particular organisation. There are many patronages that seek to raise issues of all sorts of different types. While the Governor-General supports, through patronage, the general good work of the organisations, she doesn’t support or advocate any particular position taken by those patronages.  

Senator ROBERTS: I was going to ask the minister this, but I’ll ask you instead, Mr Martin. Why did Assistant Charities Minister Andrew Leigh intervene to give Equality Australia charity status when, on three occasions, the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and two Federal Court hearings had held that Equality Australia was not established for a benevolent purpose and should not be noted—  

CHAIR: Senator Roberts, I’m going to stop you there. That’s not a question appropriately directed to Mr Martin or this particular office. You would have to go back to—  

Senator ROBERTS: I would like to have asked the minister.  

CHAIR: Well, no minister appears at this session—  

Senator ROBERTS: I can see that.  

CHAIR: because it’s not the appropriate session.  

Senator ROBERTS: I thought I’d try anyway.  

CHAIR: It’s just the office of the Governor-General.  

Senator ROBERTS: I have difficulty understanding patronage of an organisation that was not established for a benevolent purpose and should not be entitled to DGR, deductible gift recipient status.  

CHAIR: In your opinion.  

Senator ROBERTS: Is the Governor-General aware of this, or were you aware of it before tonight?  

Mr Martin: Yes, I am. The issues relating to DGR status were not in place when the patronage was accepted. Again, it’s an honorary position that has no role in those sorts of matters.  

Senator ROBERTS: Now that it is in place, do you have any change?  

Mr Martin: We regularly consider and review patronage. These matters are always under review.  

Senator ROBERTS: DGR, deductible gift recipient, status allows donors to claim tax deductions for their donations. Equality Australia was given such a massive favour by—  

CHAIR: Again, Senator Roberts, this question is not appropriately directed at these witnesses.  

Senator ROBERTS: I would like to ask a minister, but okay.  

CHAIR: As I’ve said, this is not the appropriate session. We can help you find the appropriate session for you to ask those questions.  

Senator ROBERTS: I might put them on notice to the minister.  

CHAIR: Sure.  

Senator ROBERTS: My fourth and fifth questions are not appropriate. They’re for the minister.