Child abuse survivors condemn delay in case that could defrock Peter Hollingworth

The protracted process, initiated by complaints in 2018, has now taken longer than the entire child abuse royal commission, which held 8,013 private sessions and made 2,575 referrals to authorities in the same time.

Despite this, Hollingworth permitted Elliot to continue in his role as rector of Dalby until he retired five years later.

Hollingworth was the Anglican archbishop of Brisbane for 11 years from 1989 and served as governor general from 2001 to 2003. He resigned from the office after his handling of sexual abuse allegations prompted repeated criticism, including over his comments about a survivor, Beth Heinrich.

A royal commission analysis of abuse complaints in the 23 Anglican dioceses from 1980 to the end of 2015 showed the Brisbane diocese had by far the highest, recording 33% of all complaints, and a total of 371. Adelaide, the diocese with the next highest complaint numbers, received fewer than half that number.

After the end of the royal commission five years ago, complaints were lodged about Hollingworth through the Anglican complaints process, Kooyoora.

The matter has not finalised in the five years since and is now before a professional standards tribunal, which is conducted behind closed doors and is otherwise cloaked in secrecy.

Guardian Australia understands the tribunal was first meant to hear the matter in December 2021. The repeated delays to the hearing were first reported in the Australian.

But the complainant rejected the assertion of independence.

Boyle said support was also offered to complainants.