Governor-General Quentin Bryce. Picture: Anthony Weate Source: The Courier-Mail
GOVERNOR-General Quentin Bryce would not have to step aside if she were called on to settle the political deadlock in Canberra, despite Labor powerbroker Bill Shorten being her son-in-law.
Government House released legal advice from Solicitor-General Stephen Gageler that said there was no constitutional or other legal impediment that would stop her doing her job.
As Bryce wrote to Mr Gageler on Monday saying she had "considerable concern'' after conflict-of-interest claims were raised because her daughter Chloe is married to Mr Shorten.
Mr Gageler said that in normal circumstances the Governor-General would take advice from the prime minister, but in extraordinary circumstances the Governor-General may have to exercise her own deliberative judgment.
He said extraordinary circumstances "cannot wholly be excluded'' and would be "politically charged'' and require delicate judgment with "far-reaching'' consequences.
Mr Gageler said former GGs had been politicians and had maintained continuing personal relationships with MPs and that did not disqualify them from holding the office or performing the job.
"Where they exist, connections and relationships of that kind must be recognised as realities. They fall to be managed as a matter of prudence, not of legal obligation or legal impediment,'' he wrote.
"My advice to Her Excellency is that the marriage of her daughter to Mr Shorten gives rise to no constitutional or other legal impediment to the proper discharge of her functions of office.''
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