AUSTRALIA: A former Vietnam War veteran and special forces commander was sworn in as the queen's representative in Australia yesterday, bringing to a close a turbulent period which saw the resignation of his predecessor over a church paedophile scandal.
At a ceremony in Canberra, Maj-Gen Michael Jeffery (65) became Australia's 24th governor-general, replacing Dr Peter Hollingworth, who resigned in May over accusations that he failed to crack down on paedophile priests while serving as Anglican archbishop of Brisbane in the 1990s.
Dr Hollingworth's reputation was also compromised by an unsubstantiated rape claim dating from the 1960s. His resignation was seen as the biggest crisis to engulf the 102-year-old position of governor-general since Sir John Kerr dismissed the government of then prime minister Gough Whitlam in 1975 over a parliamentary deadlock.
Maj-Gen Jeffery swore an oath of allegiance to the crown at a ceremony in Parliament House attended by the Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, MPs and senior judges. A 21-gun salute was fired as a guard of honour braved cold, wet weather outside.
Maj-Gen Jeffery's main challenge will be to restore confidence in the largely ceremonial office, which was deeply tarnished by the Hollingworth affair. The controversy led to renewed calls for Australia to become a republic.
Maj-Gen Jeffery is seen as a safe choice for Mr Howard, who has praised the former soldier for being "accessible" and able to relate to ordinary people - qualities which many commentators felt Dr Hollingworth lacked.
During his seven years as Western Australia's governor, Maj- Gen Jeffery advocated the compulsory teaching of Christianity in schools and the establishment of a national army cadet corps.