[A-List] Australia: constitutional rumblings

["Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>]

This sort of development is a further, deserved blow to "Britain", and a
revived effort to reform Australia's constitution by dismantling the
ridiculous legacy of empire, used to such great effect in 1975 in the
unseating of the troublesome Gough Whitlam,  would be further assistance to
the very desirable goal that is the break up of Britain.


Envoy defends renovation bill
By Kathy Marks in Sydney
The Independent
12 February 2003

Peter Hollingworth, the Governor General of Australia at the centre of a
child abuse scandal last year, has defended the spending of more than
£130,000 of public funds on renovating his palatial lakeside home in
Canberra.

Dr Hollingworth, the Queen's representative in Australia, also spent nearly
£335,000 on travel during his first year in the post, more than double the
amount of his predecessor, Sir William Deane. The bill was for cars, VIP
aircraft, commercial flights and accommodation. The remodelling of the
private quarters occupied by Dr Hollingworth and his wife at Government
House involved rebuilding the bathroom, installing French windows by the sun
terrace and removing pillars to enlarge the living room.

The apartment was refurnished with items that included a £2,190 rug, two
armchairs that cost £2,470, a £605 marble-topped coffee table and nine table
lamps totalling £1,680.

Dr Hollingworth's official secretary, Martin Bonsey, told a parliamentary
finance committee that the quarters had not been altered for 12 years and
had serious design problems. "Mrs Hollingworth almost had to shower in what
equated to a spa bath," he said. Mr Bonsey said the extensive travel had
been necessary because Dr Holl- ingworth was new to the job.

Dr Hollingworth was accused last year of turning a blind eye to child sexual
abuse by priests and church school teachers when he was Anglican Archbishop
of Brisbane.