Who is the governor general and what does he or she do?

The Governor General's name is Ms Quentin Bryce and her roles are to:

• dissolves the Parliament and issues writs for new elections;

• commissions the Prime Minister and appoints other Ministers after elections;

• gives assent to laws when they have been passed by the two Houses of Parliament -- the Senate and the House of Representatives**;

• acts on the advice of Ministers through the Executive Council to issue regulations and proclamations under existing laws; to appoint Federal Judges; to appoint Ambassadors and High Commissioners to overseas countries, to appoint other senior Government officials; to issue Royal Commissions of Inquiry; and other matters, as required by particular legislation;

• authorises many other executive decisions by Ministers such as approving treaties with foreign governments.