Australia's Governor-General was sworn into office in Canberra, making  Quentin Bryce the first woman to hold the post in Australia.

The 65-year-old Ms. Bryce was recommended by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd from the Australian Labor Party and appointed by Britain's Queen Elizabeth II.

Australia, which is a member of the British Commonwealth of Nations, treats the British monarch as the head of state. The governor-general post, which formally represents the British monarchy, has basically symbolic meaning.

Bryce is Australia's 25th governor-general.

Lawyer, former women’s-rights activist, and previous governor of Queensland, Bryce emphasized in her inaugural address that her main duty is to fight for human rights.

Bryce replaced Michael Jeffrey, who had been Australia’s governor-general since 2003.

Rzeczpospolita :: 5.09.08