Howard accepts Governor-General's resignation
Monday, 26 May 2003 12:52Australia's Prime Minister has accepted the resignation of Governor-General Peter Hollingworth.
Dr Hollingworth submitted his resignation yesterday after admitting that, as an Anglican archbishop in the 1990s, he had let a known paedophile remain a priest.
An unproven 40-year-old rape case had led him to stand aside two weeks ago.
Prime Minister John Howard, who hand-picked Dr Hollingworth in June 2001, said the envoy was leaving to protect the integrity of the office that represents Queen Elizabeth as head of state in the former colony.
Mr Howard had come under fire from political rivals for failing to act against Hollingworth earlier and for refusing to sack him.
'I believe, given all the circumstances, that his decision to offer his resignation was correct,' Mr Howard told parliament after holding a one-hour meeting with Dr Hollingworth in Canberra.
He said Dr Hollingworth's resignation would be formalised later this week and he would leave his official residence by late June.
But Mr Howard continued to stand by his choice for the vice-regal post.
Opposition Labor leader Simon Crean condemned Mr Howard for the delay in the matter, and for continuing to defend a man who had covered up child sex abuse.
