Annabel Crabb has waded into the row over Australia’s controversial new Governor-General with a lengthy essay defending Sam Mostyn’s appointment and attacking her critics.
The ABC star penned almost 1,500 words backing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to appoint Ms Mostyn as King Charles’ next representative Down Under.
Ms Mostyn, 58, is a businesswoman who has championed gender and climate initiatives in the arts and sporting worlds.
But she was lashed as ‘woke’ by conservative critics after her past support for progressive causes resurfaced in the form of hastily-deleted social media posts.
Now Crabb has hit back at the ‘vicious denunciations’.
The Kitchen Cabinet presenter took aim at two heavy-hitter columnists, Andrew Bolt and Janet Albrechtsen, who had both written blistering pieces about the new Governor-General.
Crabb mocked the writing ability of Ms Albrechtsen, a columnist at The Australian, before attempting to defuse her ‘fusillade of indignation’.
The appointment of Annabel Crabb (pictured) to the role of Governor-General sparked widespread criticism after deleted social media posts emerged in which she had spruiked ‘woe’ causes
But now ABC star Annabel Crabb (pictured, left) has penned an almost 1,500-word piece in Ms Mostyn’s defence
The ABC veteran took issue with Ms Albrechtsen’s central argument that Ms Mostyn did not have the business credentials for the role and only landed it because she was a woman.
‘There have to date been 27 governors-general of this federation. One of them, Dame Quentin Bryce, has been female,’ wrote Crabb.
‘The addition of another does not, to a rational eye, even faintly confirm an emerging new underclass of judicial and military gentlemen crushed under the merciless Jimmy Choos of a new skirtocracy.’
Crabb then spruiked Ms Mostyn’s relative youth, arguing that her strength lay in her difference to past Governor-Generals who had normally risen through the ranks in law, industry or the military.
‘She’s more of a sole trader than a company man,’ wrote Crabb.
‘Her opinions have been hers to share, not constrained by the structural requirements that come with judicial or religious robes, or military garb.’
She added: ‘All four of the feeder institutions for the governor-generalship – courts, clergy, military and parliament – have proven to be fallible.
‘So why would we continue to regard them as monopoly suppliers of viceregal talent?’
Crabb then turned her fire on Sky News host Bolt who had dismissed Ms Mostyn’s appointment as ‘the triumph of affirmative action over talent or accomplishment’, arguing that the reality of how she will act in office is yet to be seen.
‘Ms Mostyn has had many jobs in many organisations,’ Crabb wrote.
‘There is much evidence of her values, beliefs and practices in those jobs.
‘There is very little evidence of her ever behaving in a way as to embarrass or bring into disrespect any organisation with which she is aligned.
‘Or of using any public platform to mouth off at those who disagree with or slight her.’
Ms Mostyn, who was the AFL’s first-ever female commissioner, has a long track record of supporting progressive causes.
She backed the Voice referendum, describing herself as ‘completely untethered’ when it was resoundingly defeated, and had also described Australia Day as ‘invasion day’ in a now-deleted social media post unearthed by Daily Mail Australia.
Kitchen Cabinet presenter Crabb (pictured) spruiked Ms Mostyn’s relative youth, arguing that her strength lay in her difference to past Governor-Generals who had normally risen through the ranks in law, industry or the military
Australia’s new Governor-General referred to Australia Day as ‘invasion day’ (pictured above), while the banner picture on her X profile was a poster which declared ‘we support the Uluru Statement’ (pictured below)
Daily Mail Australia previously revealed how Ms Mostyn advocated the Voice to her 22,000 followers on X, before suddenly disabling her account.
The banner picture of her X account was, for a lengthy period of time, a poster which declared, ‘We support the Uluru Statement’.
The 58-year-old, who will officially start the role in July 2024, also previously made statements in favour of Australia becoming a republic.
In her new role she will represent the King in Australia.
‘Sam Mostyn is an exceptional leader who represents the best of modern Australia,’ Anthony Albanese said after her appointment.
‘(She) has had an extensive career in the Australian business community, including working at senior levels in telecommunications and insurance companies in Australia and globally.’
