Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Sunday that David Hurley, former Australian Defence Force chief and current governor of the state of New South Wales, has been appointed to the office. Hurley, 65, had a 42-year military career in the Australian Army culminating in his appointment as Chief of the Defence Force in 2011. The governor general is commander in chief of the armed forces, appoints ambassadors ministers and judges, gives royal assent to legislation and issues writs to call elections. The governor general almost always acts on the advice of the prime minister and parliament, but can also dissolve parliament and has done so in the past.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-australia-governorgeneral/australia-appoints-military-leader-as-next-governor-general-idUSKBN1OF006