The Prime Minister, John Howard, has defended the Governor-General, former Archbishop Peter Hollingworth, against calls for his resignation over his behaviour concerning sexual abuse claims at a Queensland school in 1990.

Critics of the Governor-General have argued this week that he failed to take prompt and appropriate action over abuse claims at the Toowoomba Preparatory School. Hollingworth has been accused of insensitivity, undue reliance on legal advice about the church’s insurance policies, and general indifference to the issue.

Speaking on ABC radio today with Clive Robertson, Howard argued that everyone has their critics: “I feel for him over that but I’ve always found him to be a very committed genuine conscientious person.” [Read more…]