Fed: Hollingworth having a rough start

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2001
Fed: Hollingworth having a rough start

By Steve Connolly

BRISBANE, Dec 14 AAP - Peter Hollingworth is fast becoming Australia's most controversial
governor-general since Sir John Kerr.

The former Archbishop of Brisbane's first six months in the vice-regal role have hardly
been smooth sailing.

It was considered a bold decision by Prime Minister John Howard to appoint a religious
leader as governor-general for the first time.

And it is Dr Hollingworth's time as archbishop which has come back to haunt him in his new role.

Last Friday, a Supreme Court jury in Toowoomba ordered the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane
to pay $834,800 damages to a 24-year-old woman sexually abused 11 years ago by a former
boarding master at the Toowoomba Preparatory School.

The church has maintained it knew nothing about the activities of the school's former
boarding master Kevin George Guy until the day he committed suicide in 1990, leaving a
letter saying he loved 20 girls at the school.

But there's been evidence given to the court that Dr Hollingworth when he was archbishop
failed to act despite being alerted to the allegations against Guy.

A psychologist, Joy Conolly, told the court she asked the then archbishop to offer
support to the parents of one victim, but he replied he was "very tired and needed a holiday
and there was nothing he could do".

People's Alliance Against Sexual Abuse president Hetty Johnston believes Dr Hollingworth
should stand down as governor-general because he is unsuitable for the position.

She is also seeking a federal government inquiry and has warned that the Queen could
face protests during her Australian tour next year if Mr Howard fails to take action or
Dr Hollingworth does not have a reasonable explanation for his response at the time of
the sexual abuse case.

Dr Hollingworth has so far declined to comment on the Toowoomba case and a spokesman
says he's unlikely to do so because of his position.

The Anglican Diocese of Brisbane has said it deeply regrets the events of 11 years
ago and the effect that it had on the girl involved.

The church is still considering an appeal against the compensation decision.

Meanwhile, the possibility remains that this issue could result in the unthinkable
- a governor-general stepping down.

Although renowned as one of Australia's great social justice campaigners and considered
by many to be an inspired choice as governor-general, Dr Hollingworth has struggled under
the shadow of his predecessor Sir William Deane.

He put some sections of the media off initially by choosing the honorific "Dr" rather
than just being plain old "Mr".

There has been criticism of his decision to set up a chapel at Yarralumla rather than
worship at one of Canberra's many churches, and also of his acceptance of a big salary
increase.

He's also made news complaining about the language of noisy early morning rowers on
Lake Burley Griffin.

But there's not been much from Dr Hollingworth on Sir William's great cause - Aboriginal
reconciliation, nor for that matter on the other great social justice issue concerning
Australians - asylum seekers.

Dr Hollingworth has certainly not been the divisive figure that the late Sir John Kerr
became after he sacked the Whitlam government in 1975.

But he has hardly inspired during his first six months at Yarralumla and the Toowoomba
child abuse case is an issue that will be hard to shake off for the man who has been appointed
governor-general until 2006.

AAP sc/ldj/sb

KEYWORD: HOLLINGWORTH (AAP BACKGROUNDER)

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