13mar02

PRIME Minister John Howard should not be making calls to sound out any future Governor-General while publicly supporting Dr Peter Hollingworth, the opposition has argued.

Mr Howard has reportedly sounded out Qantas chairwoman Margaret Jackson as a replacement Governor-General for Dr Hollingworth.

The Bulletin magazine said Ms Jackson was Mr Howard's original choice for the vice-regal position.

Today, Opposition leader Simon Crean said he had a high regard for Ms Jackson but it was not his call to appoint her.

And he said Mr Howard should not be sounding her out for the job while publicly supporting Dr Hollingworth.

"This is another example of the Prime Minister saying one thing and doing another," Mr Crean told ABC radio.

"This is a prime minister that says he's firmly behind the Governor-General but he's being sounding out a replacement in the corridors.

"Now at least I had the courage to front the Governor-General and say that he should go.

"The Prime Minister pretends publicly to support him but privately he's canvassing alternatives - this is a prime minister that just can't be trusted."