The following statement has been released by the Governor-General, Dr. Peter Hollingworth.
Statement by the Governor-General, Dr. Peter Hollingworth.
The Governor-General, Dr Hollingworth, has taken note of the suggestion of the Premier of Queensland that he might spend some time with the victims of child abuse in Brisbane. He appreciates Mr Beattie’s suggestion, which anticipated his own thinking on the matter.
Dr Hollingworth has reiterated the point, hardly reported, in his statement last week that he abhors all forms of child abuse, most especially by those occupying positions of trust in what should be a secure and nurturing environment.
Arrangements have been made for the Chairman and Executive Director of the Kids First Foundation to meet the Governor-General on Tuesday 8th January in Sydney. Dr Hollingworth hopes that that meeting will provide an occasion to discuss the contribution that he can make as Governor-General in support of the victims of child abuse.
Dr Hollingworth has decided to make himself available early in the New Year in Brisbane for private meetings with those who consider themselves to have been the victims of child abuse at Anglican schools or other institutions in Queensland during the time that he was Archbishop of Brisbane, that is 1990 to 2001. People wishing to take up this invitation can phone 02 62833537 over the next few days and leave a message expressing their interest and leaving contact details so that appointments can be made.
