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Sex scandal dogs Governor-General

Queen Elizabeth is Australia's head of state

They are angry about his handling of a case of sexual abuse at a church school in his diocese while he was Archbishop of Brisbane 10 years ago.

Dr Hollingworth has denied there was a cover-up, and insisted he did nothing wrong.

The Governor-General broke his silence after a 24-year-old former student of an Anglican school last month successfully sued the Brisbane diocese for damages after she was sexually assaulted by the school's boarding master.

The church was ordered to pay almost $500,000 in damages

The teacher killed himself in 1990 before ever facing a trial.

In a three-page statement, Dr Hollingworth says he could no longer stand by and allow unfounded allegations to be made against him.

He said at the time of the abuse, legal obligations played heavily in his decision not to intervene.

Dr Hollingworth's supporters say he is the victim of a campaign of denigration and defamation aimed at undermining his position as the Queen's representative in Australia.