Forms of address the members of Parliament, Government and the Judiciary
It is important to understand correct forms of address when writing or meeting Vice Regal persons, members of parliament, government, diplomatic/consular corps and religious leaders.
Vice Regal Persons
| Position | Introduction | Commence speech | Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
| Governor-General | His/Her Excellency (title and/or name) The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia | Your Excellency | Sir/Madam |
| Partner of the Governor-General | His/Her Excellency (title and/or name) | Your Excellency | Sir/Madam |
| Governor of NSW | His/Her Excellency (title and/or name) The Governor of New South Wales | Your Excellency | Sir/Madam |
| Partner of the Governor of NSW | Addressed by their title and/or name | Addressed by their title and/or name | Addressed by their title and/or name |
Position Governor-General Introduction His/Her Excellency (title and/or name) The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Commence speech Your Excellency Subsequently Sir/Madam |
Position Partner of the Governor-General Introduction His/Her Excellency (title and/or name) Commence speech Your Excellency Subsequently Sir/Madam |
Position Governor of NSW Introduction His/Her Excellency (title and/or name) The Governor of New South Wales Commence speech Your Excellency Subsequently Sir/Madam |
Position Partner of the Governor of NSW Introduction Addressed by their title and/or name Commence speech Addressed by their title and/or name Subsequently Addressed by their title and/or name |
Members of parliament
| Position | Introduction | Commence speech | Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime Minister | The Honourable (name) Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia | Prime Minister | Prime Minister |
| Commonwealth Ministers | The Honourable (if members of the Privy Council) or The Honourable (name) Minister for… | Minister | Minister |
| Members of the House of Representatives | Title and name If a Minister Minister for… | Minister | Minister |
| Members of the Senate | Senator (name) Minister for…(if a Minister) | Senator | Senator |
| State Premier of NSW | The Honourable (name) Premier of New South Wales | Premier | Premier |
| State Ministers | The Honourable (name) Minister for… | Minister | Minister |
Members of the Legislative Council (if not a Minister) | The Honourable (name) | Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) | Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) |
| Members of the Legislative Assembly (if not a Minister) | Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) | Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) | Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) |
Position Prime Minister Introduction The Honourable (name) Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia Commence speech Prime Minister Subsequently Prime Minister |
Position Commonwealth Ministers Introduction The Honourable (if members of the Privy Council) or The Honourable (name) Minister for… Commence speech Minister Subsequently Minister |
Position Members of the House of Representatives Introduction Title and name If a Minister Minister for… Commence speech Minister Subsequently Minister |
Position Members of the Senate Introduction Senator (name) Minister for…(if a Minister) Commence speech Senator Subsequently Senator |
Position State Premier of NSW Introduction The Honourable (name) Premier of New South Wales Commence speech Premier Subsequently Premier |
Position State Ministers Introduction The Honourable (name) Minister for… Commence speech Minister Subsequently Minister |
Position Members of the Legislative Council (if not a Minister) Introduction The Honourable (name) Commence speech Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) Subsequently Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) |
Position Members of the Legislative Assembly (if not a Minister) Introduction Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) Commence speech Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) Subsequently Mr/Mrs/Ms (name) |
Diplomatic and consular corps
| Position | Introduction | Commence speech | Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ambassador | His/Her Excellency (title and name) Ambassador of (country) | Your Excellency | Ambassador |
| High Commissioner | His/Her Excellency (title and name) High Commissioner for (country) | Your Excellency | High Commissioner |
| Consul General | (title and name) the Consul General of | Consul General | Consul General or (title and name) |
| Consul | (title and name) the Consul of | Consul | Consul or (title and name) |
Position Ambassador Introduction His/Her Excellency (title and name) Ambassador of (country) Commence speech Your Excellency Subsequently Ambassador |
Position High Commissioner Introduction His/Her Excellency (title and name) High Commissioner for (country) Commence speech Your Excellency Subsequently High Commissioner |
Position Consul General Introduction (title and name) the Consul General of Commence speech Consul General Subsequently Consul General or (title and name) |
Position Consul Introduction (title and name) the Consul of Commence speech Consul Subsequently Consul or (title and name) |
Local Government
| Position | Introduction | Commence speech | Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Mayor | The Lord Mayor (of city…) (name) | Lord Mayor | Lord Mayor |
| Mayor | The Mayor (of town…) (name) | Mayor | Mayor |
| Shire President | Councillor (name) President of the…(Shire) | Councillor (name) | Councillor (name) |
| Alderman or Councillor | Alderman/Councillor (name) | Councillor (name) | Councillor (name) |
Position Lord Mayor Introduction The Lord Mayor (of city…) (name) Commence speech Lord Mayor Subsequently Lord Mayor |
Position Mayor Introduction The Mayor (of town…) (name) Commence speech Mayor Subsequently Mayor |
Position Shire President Introduction Councillor (name) President of the…(Shire) Commence speech Councillor (name) Subsequently Councillor (name) |
Position Alderman or Councillor Introduction Alderman/Councillor (name) Commence speech Councillor (name) Subsequently Councillor (name) |
Notes:
- Post-nominals and initials are not used when introducing guests e.g. The Shire President of the whole Gallahganbone Shire, Councillor Chris. Sladeshield, AM would be introduced as “Councillor Chris Sladeshield, Shire President of the Gallahganbone Shire.”
- Ministers who are senators are addressed as “The Minister for………Senator, (name)
Religious leaders
| Position | Introduction | Commence speech | Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archbishop (Anglican) | The Most Reverend The Archbishop of… | Your Grace or Archbishop | Your Grace or Archbishop |
| Archbishop (Roman Catholic) | His Grace, The Most Reverend, Archbishop of… | Your Grace or Archbishop | Your Grace or Archbishop |
Archbishop (Greek Orthodox) | The Most Reverend Archbishop | Your Eminence | Your Grace or Archbishop |
Bishop (Anglican) | The Right Reverend The Bishop of… | Bishop | Bishop |
Bishop (Roman Catholic) | The Most Reverend, Bishop of… | Dear Bishop | My Lord |
Bishop (Greek Orthodox) | The Right Reverend Bishop | Your Grace | Your Grace or Bishop |
| Cardinal | His Eminence Cardinal (name) | Your Eminence | Your Eminence |
| Archdeacon | The Venerable The Archdeacon of… | Archdeacon | Archdeacon |
| Dean | The Very Reverend The Dean of… | Dean | Dean |
| Monsignor | The Reverend Monsignor (name) | Monsignor | Monsignor |
| Priest | The Reverend Father (name) | Reverend Father | Father |
Position Archbishop (Anglican) Introduction The Most Reverend The Archbishop of… Commence speech Your Grace or Archbishop Subsequently Your Grace or Archbishop |
Position Archbishop (Roman Catholic) Introduction His Grace, The Most Reverend, Archbishop of… Commence speech Your Grace or Archbishop Subsequently Your Grace or Archbishop |
Position Archbishop (Greek Orthodox) Introduction The Most Reverend Archbishop Commence speech Your Eminence Subsequently Your Grace or Archbishop |
Position Bishop (Anglican) Introduction The Right Reverend The Bishop of… Commence speech Bishop Subsequently Bishop |
Position Bishop (Roman Catholic) Introduction The Most Reverend, Bishop of… Commence speech Dear Bishop Subsequently My Lord |
Position Bishop (Greek Orthodox) Introduction The Right Reverend Bishop Commence speech Your Grace Subsequently Your Grace or Bishop |
Position Cardinal Introduction His Eminence Cardinal (name) Commence speech Your Eminence Subsequently Your Eminence |
Position Archdeacon Introduction The Venerable The Archdeacon of… Commence speech Archdeacon Subsequently Archdeacon |
Position Dean Introduction The Very Reverend The Dean of… Commence speech Dean Subsequently Dean |
Position Monsignor Introduction The Reverend Monsignor (name) Commence speech Monsignor Subsequently Monsignor |
Position Priest Introduction The Reverend Father (name) Commence speech Reverend Father Subsequently Father |
Members of the armed forces
| Position | Introduction | Commence speech | Subsequently |
|---|---|---|---|
Rank e.g. Commodore, Major General, Air Vice- Marshal | Rank, then name, then appointment, then Branch of Service | Sir/Ma’am | Sir |
Position Rank e.g. Commodore, Major General, Air Vice- Marshal Introduction Rank, then name, then appointment, then Branch of Service Commence speech Sir/Ma’am Subsequently Sir |