26feb02

PRIME Minister John Howard should appoint a woman as governor-general, the NSW Greens have said.

Greens MP Lee Rhiannon used the opening of the state parliament today to announce she would put forward a motion in the NSW Upper House calling for Dr Hollingworth's resignation as governor-general.

The motion will be put forward if the matter has not been resolved by the time the house resumes on March 13, she said.

"The Greens will call on the prime minister to appoint a woman governor-general when Peter Hollingworth is gone, until such time as Australia has a proper, republican head of state," she said in a statement.

"The prime minister is making this an issue of a powerful man saving face, when it should be an issue about women and their rights.

"NSW Governor Marie Bashir provides an educative contrast to the governor-general and we know that a woman such as herself would not have made the sexist blunders that Peter Hollingworth has.

"The Greens will have parliament debate a motion calling for the governor-general's resignation when the Upper House resumes ... if the matter has not been resolved by then."