Sydney - Australia's next governor-general, Dr Peter Hollingworth, has been publicly lambasted for insisting on being addressed by his new title of Dr. The Anglican Archbishop of Brisbane, who takes over as representative of Queen Elizabeth, Australia's head of state, on July 1st, has made it known he should be referred to as Dr Hollingworth after accepting a doctorate from the Archbishop of Canterbury. But the religious leader, who desires to become a man of the people, has been reprimanded for undermining Australia's egalitarian values.
Sydney's Daily Telegraph said in an editorial that during his five-year term as governor-general it would refer to him as Mr Hollingworth.
"It does so with no disrespect for his achievements but to remind him that his role of [representative of] head of state is not one of privilege but of service to the Australian people," the newspaper said.
Australians, who prefer to call someone "Mate" than "Mister", have for years been uneasy about titles of any description.