To this end, she sought extensive legal advice from the Solicitor-General on what to do if the result of the last election had not been clear-cut.
鈥淎fter the Dismissal in 1975, people were acutely aware the Governor-General could do one thing, and that was dismiss the Prime Minister,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 talk to people about the reserve powers and why I don鈥檛 believe that will ever happen again 鈥 as the Governor-General, you should always be conscious of maintaining the kind of relationship with the Prime Minister and the government where, if you see trouble ahead, you work with them to avoid the trouble.鈥
Because Ms Mostyn had been a strong advocate for progressive causes including The Voice, and gender inequality, she sustained harsh criticism when her role was announced. She was derided as an 鈥渁ctivist鈥.
News Corp columnist Andrew Bolt wrote that her appointment was 鈥渢he triumph of affirmative action over talent or accomplishment鈥. His stablemate Janet Albrechtson opined that Mostyn was 鈥渘o business heavyweight鈥 and that she 鈥渞eflects the worst of modern woke Australia鈥.
Further, Albrechtson wrote, 鈥渋f her chromosomes were XY she wouldn鈥檛 have been considered for the role鈥.
Is this the right time to note that the croque madame is delightfully buttery and exactly the right amount of crunchy? I have devoured mine. Beyond a few discreet mouthfuls, the GG has barely touched hers. I don鈥檛 want to damage Australia鈥檚 constitutional democracy, but my journalistic duty is to the reader, not to the Governor-General鈥檚 blood sugar levels. I press on.
How did those personal attacks feel for her? 鈥淗ow did I feel? I felt really disappointed that so many people were angry at the notion that a woman who had not served in the defence force could possibly be a governor-general,鈥 she says, somewhat carefully.
Was disappointment all she felt? 鈥淚 had a lot of emotions running at the time, but I came into this with very clear eyes that this would happen,鈥 she says. 鈥淚 can get angry about that, but I find anger is a pretty wasted emotion 鈥 so I think, 鈥榃hat do they need to see?鈥 What they need to see is a person showing up in the job and doing it.鈥
In preparation for the role, Mostyn spoke to former governors-general, and consulted former prime ministers about how they managed the relationship with the head of state. Sir William Deane, who is now 94, told Mostyn to always show compassion and to stay at each event for at least an hour.
He also advised her to find a seat. 鈥淧eople don鈥檛 share how they鈥檙e feeling standing up, he said. But you sit down, and people tell you their stories.鈥
The Governor-General coughs. She is now getting a dry throat. I ask if she needs to pause and eat and drink something. 鈥淣o, no, I鈥檓 all right!鈥 she says. 鈥淚鈥檒l just drink this.鈥
She sips her water. I ask her what she does to unwind. 鈥淚鈥檓 a knitter, I鈥檓 a weaver. I always have something in my bag that I鈥檓 doing,鈥 she says.
An attendant clears our plates away 鈥 mine is clean, Mostyn鈥檚 still quite full.
She asks for a tea with some lemon and honey in it. I take a regular tea.
I ask Mostyn if she is a royalist. 鈥淲hat do you mean by royalist?鈥 she asks.
鈥淪omeone who reveres the royal family,鈥 I reply.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think I鈥檝e heard any former Governor-General use that language,鈥 she says. 鈥淚鈥檓 deeply respectful of the role that the monarchy plays. I鈥檓 deeply respectful of our constitutional monarchy and our strong set of institutions. I think King Charles shows us what a modern king looks like.鈥
鈥淏ut the King doesn鈥檛 direct me and I don鈥檛 seek his advice. It鈥檚 the Prime Minister and the ministry I take my counsel from, and that I work with.鈥
Her larynx fortified by herbal tea, the Governor-General is happy to continue our chat. 鈥淚 talk all the time about a mighty Australian democracy,鈥 she says.
But it is me who has to end our nearly three-hour-long conversation, to attend to the un-vice-regal responsibility of the school pickup. 鈥淭hat is a real deadline,鈥 Mostyn says, and she sees me out, while issuing an invitation to bring my daughter another day for afternoon tea.
I walk out through the entrance hall, now devoid of Captain Cook pics. Behind me, the door stays open.
Start the day with a summary of the day鈥檚 most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.