Peter Hollingworth, the former governor general of Australia who resigned over his handling of child sexual abuse in the Anglican church, has died at the age of 91.
Hollingworth served as the Anglican archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years from 1990, becoming the first Australian-born person to hold that position. He was appointed governor general in 2001 by then Prime Minister John Howard, using his role to advocate for Indigenous rights and the disadvantaged.
However, his tenure was cut short after less than two years. In 2003, a board of inquiry found that as archbishop, he failed to act on knowledge of sexual abuse, allowing two priests who had assaulted children to remain in the church. A subsequent church inquiry in 2023 found he committed misconduct but deemed him fit for ministry.
Hollingworth accepted the findings, stating he "made mistakes and cannot undo them" but committed no crimes. He announced in 2023 he would no longer practise as an Anglican priest to "end distress" for survivors.
Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane Jeremy Greaves expressed condolences, acknowledging the church's past failings and apologising unreservedly to those who suffered abuse.
