The Governor-General and I met at Admiralty House Sydney this morning.
We have agreed that Dr Hollingworth should stand aside from the office of Governor-General until the proceedings initiated against him and others by the late "Annie" Jarmyn have been resolved.
During the period that he stands aside, the senior State Governor Sir Guy Green of Tasmania will be asked to administer the Commonwealth. A minor amendment to the Letters Patent relating to the office of Governor-General will be required. Formal procedures to bring about this change have already been initiated.
It is only when the proceedings started by the late Ms Jarmyn have been resolved that proper consideration can be given by the Governor-General to his longer-term tenure of the office.
Dr Hollingworth has told me that in considering his longer-term position his greatest concern will be to protect the office of Governor-General.
It remains my view that there are no grounds for me to recommend to The Queen that Dr Hollingworth's appointment be terminated.
Dr Hollingworth has denied openly and directly the almost 40 year old rape allegations initiated by a woman who is now tragically deceased.
As was proper, the Governor-General informed me of these allegations as soon as they were made and kept me in touch with progress in the relevant court proceedings.
Like any Australian citizen, he is not only entitled to a presumption of innocence but also a fair go.
The conduct of the proceedings initiated by the late "Annie" Jarmyn is a matter for the Victorian Supreme Court. Dr Hollingworth has told me that his lawyers will both cooperate in and take all appropriate steps to achieve a speedy resolution of the matter.
I have sought advice as to whether it would be appropriate for the Commonwealth to seek leave to intervene in the case in the interests of a speedy resolution.
The fitness of Dr Hollingworth to hold the office of Governor-General has been vigorously questioned in the wake of the report of the Board of Inquiry established by the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane.
It should be pointed out that this inquiry was a purely private one. It was not a judicial inquiry. Dr Hollingworth himself has admitted a serious error of judgement but strongly disputes a major negative finding of the inquiry that related to him. He believes that the conduct and handling of the inquiry involved his being denied natural justice. Dr Hollingworth has obtained Senior Counsel's opinion, which supports this belief.
It should also be noted that Dr Hollingworth made a statement on 20 February 2002 canvassing in detail his handling of issues, which were the subject of the Board of Inquiry.