The Governor-General has apologised for appearing in a video promoting the services of a Canberra builder, admitting he "made a mistake".
David Hurley and his wife Linda appeared in a video posted on social media spruiking the work of builder Brendan Howe, who completed a luxury renovation on the couple's private Canberra residence.
"We've been working with Brendan now for about 18 months and we were really delighted with the outcome and the end product and the entire time we've had a very positive and constructive relationship. Brendan at all times he has been very professional," Mr Hurley said in the video, posted to Instagram In December 2020.
The video, which has since been removed, identified the project as "Extension for the Governor-General, David and Linda Hurley".
It was accompanied by a message of thanks from the building company.
"It was truly a great honour and privilege to build and extend the Governor-General's private ACT residence," the post read.
In a statement, General Hurley said he was unaware the video would be made public.
"I made a mistake by agreeing, on the spur of a happy moment, to express my appreciation for the builder in a video and photos," he said.
"I apologise for my mistake."
General Hurley is entitled to two luxurious taxpayer residences, one in Sydney and another in Canberra.
He also earns a salary of about $425,000 a year.
An architecture firm also posted the photo of the Hurleys in a post that says the renovation cost more than $1 million and won an award.
General Hurley insisted he received "no benefit of any kind" for appearing in the video.
"My words were not intended to be used in direct commercial advertising and reference to my appointment was not to be made," he said.
"Nevertheless, I should have checked that my guidance was accurately followed. I have asked the builder to remove all material related to my comments."
General Hurley attracted controversy earlier this year after it was revealed he personally lobbied then-prime minister Scott Morrison about a leadership program that was later allocated more than $18 million in federal funding.
Then in opposition, Labor questioned the integrity of the deal.
Labor MP Julian Hill said General Hurley had done the right thing by saying sorry.
“It’s good the Governor-General has apologised but the incident should not have happened,” he said.
“[It's] clearly an error of judgement but it’s not a hanging offence. He’s a decent man of integrity [and it] won’t happen again."
