Sir Peter Cosgrove sworn in as Governor-General

Sir Peter Cosgrove has been sworn in as Australia's 26th Governor-General, declaring that he comes to the role "agenda free".

The man who has become Australia's first knight under Prime Minister Tony Abbott's revived honours system used his swearing-in address in the Senate to pay tribute to Corporal Cameron Baird, who was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross in February this year.

"We hail and salute Cameron Baird," he said. "He lives in the injured hearts of those he left too soon."

The former Defence Force chief became Australia's 26th governor-general when he took his oaths in the Senate chamber before Chief Justice Robert French.

He succeeds Dame Quentin Bryce, who departed Yarralumla this week after more than five years in the job.

more: Sir Peter Cosgrove sworn in as Governor-General

Sir Peter Cosgrove has been sworn in as Australia's 26th Governor-General, declaring that he comes to the role "agenda free".

The man who has become Australia's first knight under Prime Minister Tony Abbott's revived honours system used his swearing-in address in the Senate to pay tribute to Corporal Cameron Baird, who was posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross in February this year.

"We hail and salute Cameron Baird," he said. "He lives in the injured hearts of those he left too soon."

The former Defence Force chief became Australia's 26th governor-general when he took his oaths in the Senate chamber before Chief Justice Robert French.

He succeeds Dame Quentin Bryce, who departed Yarralumla this week after more than five years in the job.