Australian governor general Peter Hollingworth stepped down last night following three weeks of calls for his resignation, days after rape allegations against him were dropped in Victoria’s state supreme court.
His unprecedented move marks the first resignation of an Australian governor general and has reignited questions about the position of the Queen’s official representative in Australia.
The Australian Republican Movement said that ”the system is broken”, and called for a more representative way of choosing Australia’s de facto head of state.
But Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy said Hollingworth’s private troubles presented no problems for the future of the governor general’s office.
Hollingworth has been under fire since late 2001 over his failure to crack down on paedophilia during his term as archbishop of Brisbane in the mid-1990s.
Criticism came to a head earlier this month with the publication of a report criticising his handling of the child abuse claims. It intensified a fortnight ago when it was revealed that he was also facing accusations of rape from Rosemarie Jarmyn, a 57-year-old who committed suicide last month.
She had alleged that Hollingworth had assaulted her at a youth camp in rural Victoria in 1965 or 1966. The case was dropped on Friday after her lawyers admitted that it would be impossible to prove it without Jarmyn as witness.
Hollingworth had stood aside from his role while the case was heard, and many thought he was in the clear when the rape case collapsed last week.
However, the support of the prime minister, John Howard, which he had enjoyed since his appointment two years ago has in recent weeks been notably absent.
Howard, a friend of Hollingworth but a keen follower of public opinion, made no attempt to support his governor general after the rape allegations were dropped.
Hollingworth’s resignation statement last night echoed the view that his job must be sacrificed for the good of the governor generalship.
”Despite the misplaced and unwarranted allegations made against me,” it read, ”it is clear that continuing public controversy has the potential to undermine and diminish my capacity to uphold the importance, dignity, and integrity of this high office.”
In theory, his resignation could still be refused by the Queen or prime minister, but in practice his two-year term at government house is now at an end. Buckingham Palace, like Howard, remained tight-lipped last night. ”The Queen is, of course, aware of his decision. She was informed before the announcement was made,” said a palace representative.
Howard will meet Hollingworth today to discuss his successor, who in the immediate term will be the Tasmanian governor, Sir Guy Green, who has fulfilled Hollingworth’s duties since the rape allegations were first aired.
Governors general are chosen directly by Australian prime ministers and Hollingworth always suffered from the perception that he was Howard’s man. Hollingworth was never a popular figure. His aloof manner — characterised by his failure to fly to Bali immediately after last October’s bomb attacks — alienated large sections of the Australian public
Several candidates have been touted to rebuild the office following Sir Guy Green’s caretakership. Leading contender is Tim Fischer, a former leader of the National party, with support on both sides of politics despite his party’s membership of Howard’s ruling coalition. The names of Australian commander-in-chief Peter Cosgrove, and Qantas chairwoman Margaret Jackson, have also been suggested. – Guardian Unlimited Â