Peter Hollingworth made one error of judgement. He should not resign

There is a need for a constitutional referee above politics but also an auditor of the decisions of ministers and the Cabinet which need to be given legal effect in the day-to-day process of government.

The people of Canberra may appreciate this more than most. The financial excesses of the Carnell government in relation to the Bruce Stadium would not have occurred if the constitutional system forced on them by the Hawke government had properly respected the essence of the Westminster system.

A reasonably diligent administrator or governor would have sent that one back. And if the Carnell government had persisted it would have faced the fate of the Lang and Whitlam governments.

The ACT obviously needs an administrator ... not to open fetes, but as a significant constitutional check and balance. To reiterate, a vice-regal representative's role is essentially constitutional. The Governor-General has to have the strength and will to do his duty. That is the test for holding this high office. That is why a Senate resolution should be of no concern, and that is why a hundred frothing editorials should not sway him.

Nor should he be concerned if, say, the Royal Bob-Tailed Cat Society, deigns to dispense with his patronage, no matter how much attention the president and office bearers receive in an unduly excited media, nor how much adulation they then receive from the bien pensants.

In these cases he could do no worse than recall the screams of outrage from the bourgeoisie when Bill McKell and later Bill Hayden were elevated to vice-regal status. Had they not working-class origins, and would not know how to behave? Worse, were they not until then politicians: Labor politicians? The then Leaders of the Opposition denounced the appointment.

But both transformed themselves into what that great constitutional lawyer, Pat Lane, once called local constitutional monarchs. They rose above politics. They did their duty. They behaved impeccably.

So does this Governor-General. One error of judgment in a lifetime of service is no barrier whatsoever to his continuing. It only shows that he is human and imperfect. As we all are. And as it was once said: Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.