Former governor found misconduct in 7 of 10 abuse complaints

An Anglican church investigation has upheld misconduct findings in seven of ten complaints against Peter Hollingworth, the former governor-general and archbishop, yet concluded the 88-year-old can continue ministry within limited, defined duties.

The Professional Standards Board for the Anglican Diocese of Melbourne reached this conclusion following a more-than-five-year investigation that included a private four-day hearing in February. The narrow verdict reflects the inquiry's scope: assessing whether Hollingworth poses a threat to others going forward, not whether his past actions warrant harsher remedies.

Hollingworth acknowledged the findings in a statement. "I made mistakes and I cannot undo them," he said, referencing his handling of child sex abuse complaints while leading the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane throughout the 1990s. He attributed his failures to inexperience and reliance on institutional advice rather than victim-centred responses.

"I had little experience in dealing with the child abuse issues," he said. "Like other church leaders, I was unduly influenced by the advice of lawyers and insurance companies."

The misconduct findings centre on his response to abuse allegations during that decade. Melbourne Archbishop Philip Freier announced he will reprimand Hollingworth for two specific failures: retaining two clergy members he knew were offenders, and communicating insensitively with abuse victims and their families.

Hollingworth must formally apologise to all affected victims. Freier said he has briefed the Commission for Children and Young People and will monitor Hollingworth's compliance with all legal obligations.

Hollingworth's career trajectory is central to why the review was demanded. He led the Brisbane diocese for more than a decade before his appointment as Australia's 23rd governor-general in 2001. He resigned from that post in 2003 after revelations about his response to multiple abuse complaints. One case drew particular scrutiny: his handling of allegations against a teacher at Toowoomba Preparatory School. Critics called for him to be defrocked. He also faced—and denied—claims he raped a woman in the 1960s.

A separate apology came during the 2016 royal commission into child sexual abuse, when Hollingworth acknowledged serious errors in his handling of accusations against priest John Elliot.

The current inquiry was conducted by Kooyoora, an independent body authorised to issue ministry clearances for the diocese. The seven-of-ten misconduct finding represents the inquiry's acknowledgement of systematic failures in Hollingworth's handling of abuse during his tenure as archbishop. The "fit for ministry" verdict within those limits reflects the panel's assessment that risk can be managed through restriction, not removal.