Peter Hollingworth's Resignation Letter as Governor General

Assignment Task

It is with great sadness and a heavy heart that I write to you, having resigned my commission as Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia and on our departure from Government House. Yet, it has been the greatest honour to have served you and the people of Australia over these past two years. It has also been a great experience for Ann and myself, because we have met so many wonderful people throughout the Commonwealth and witnessed some outstanding projects in all endeavours of community life.

We are proud of the achievements of such people and particularly pleased to have served during the year of the Centenary of Federation. It is because these experiences have been so positive that I had always hoped to have served my fuli term of office. It was therefore with deep disappointment that I came to the conclusion that this would be virtually impossible because of the continuing barrage of media attack upon me and upon the office itself. These criticisms began at the time of the announcement of my appointment and they have increased in strength and momentum over the past two years. Initially these concerns were generated by the media, reflecting the views of those who believed the appointment of a former archbishop was inappropriate because it blurred imagined lines between church and state. Others were disappointed republicans and some were politicians in opposition or in minority parties who saw this as a way of attacking the Prime Minister.

Unfortunately much criticism, in the wider community reveals an ignorance of the Constitution and the role of the Governor-General within it. It has been my view for some time that there is a need to improve community knowledge of these matters in order to encourage Australians to value the office and role of the Governor-General, both as The Queen's representative and as the President of the Executive Council. The other disappointing factor has been the practice of some critics to make unfavourable comparisons between me and my predecessor, Sir William Deane. I am sure he finds these comparisons embarrassing, because each incumbent should be able to interpret and shape the role according to their own experiences and background while operating within the framework of the Constitution and its conventions. Act

Media claims about my alleged failure to deal with child sex abuse claims in church schools and in the Diocese began in December 2001 and have continued to the present time. Though these were largely unfounded, my handling of one case involving a priest ten years ago drew substantial criticism from a two person private inquiry commissioned by my successor as Archbishop of Brisbane. Against the background of a well orchestrated media campaign, fed by a small group of activists, in the end the report of the inquiry was what forced my resignation. I remain saddened and disappointed about the way this inquiry was handled, particularly because some legal colleagues have serious questions about the methods used to collect evidence, cross examine witnesses and reach fair conclusions.

It is a widely held legal view that inquiries of this kind should always use proper judicial practices and processes in order to achieve justice and fairness for all parties.

In this instance, the methodology adopted left much to be desired. In particular it did not secure procedural fairness for me, particularly having regard for the office that I held as Governor-General. The report was tabled in the State Parliament of Queensland, thereby making it difficult for me to ever challenge the veracity of the report and its conclusions. This was immediately followed by the public disclosure of completely false allegations from a woman who subsequently took her life and who was seeking compensation from the Dioceses of Ballarat and Bendigo and from myself as well as the State of Victoria for her treatment while in adoption and foster care within church homes and state psychiatric institutions. Her allegations against me went back forty years, and were plainly a reconstruction of her profoundly troubled childhood. Just before her application to have her case heard out of time, tragically she took her own life. I have no idea who she was although I now know that there were close associations between herself, a Queensland Children's Rights Activist Group, a Brisbane newspaper and a Brisbane law firm who encouraged her to take civil action for the purposes of financial compensation.

The result is that I can never clear my name, even though I could have proved conclusively that I could not possibly have been where she claimed I was and where I was supposed to have sexually assaulted her. The matter can never now come before the courts and has been ctivat withdrawn.

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