<P> The Governor - General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative of the Australian monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II . As the Queen is shared equally with the 15 other Commonwealth realms, and normally resides in the United Kingdom, she, on the advice of her prime minister, appoints a governor - general to carry out most of her constitutional and ceremonial duties within the Commonwealth of Australia . The governor - general has formal presidency over the Federal Executive Council and is commander - in - chief of the Australian Defence Force . The functions of the governor - general include appointing ministers, judges, and ambassadors; giving royal assent to legislation passed by parliament; issuing writs for election; and bestowing Australian honours . </P> <P> In general, the governor - general observes the conventions of the Westminster system and responsible government, maintaining a political neutrality, and has almost always acted only on the advice of the prime minister or other ministers or, in certain cases, parliament . The governor - general also has a ceremonial role: hosting events at either of the two viceregal residences--Government House in the capital, Canberra, and Admiralty House in Sydney--and travelling throughout Australia to open conferences, attend services and commemorations, and generally provide encouragement to individuals and groups who are contributing to their communities . When travelling abroad, the governor - general is seen as the representative of Australia, and of the Queen of Australia . The governor - general is supported by a staff headed by the official secretary to the governor - general . </P> <P> A governor - general is not appointed for a specific term, but is generally expected to serve for five years subject to a possible short extension . Since 28 March 2014, the Governor - General has been General Sir Peter Cosgrove . </P> <P> From Federation in 1901 until 1965, 11 out of the 15 governors - general were British aristocrats; they included four barons, three viscounts, three earls, and one royal duke . Since then, all but one of the governors - general have been Australian - born; the exception, Ninian Stephen, arrived in Australia as a teenager . Only one Governor - General, Dame Quentin Bryce (2008--2014), has been a woman . </P>

When does the governor general's term end
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