Hayden swearing-in boycott

Press, 15 February 1989, Page 10

Hayden swearing-in boycott

NZPA Sydney Senior Opposition members of Parliament, in what is viewed as an informal boycott, will be absent from the swearingin of Australia’s new Gov-ernor-General, Bill Hayden, tomorrow.

Although the Federal Opposition criticised the appointment of the former Labour Party leader and supposed re-

publican to the vice-regal post, the Opposition leader, John Howard, asked M.P.S from the Liberal and National parties coalition to attend the swearing-in ceremony out of respect for the office of Governor-General. But yesterday Mr Howard’s deputy, the National Party leader, lan Sinclair, disclosed he would be among the Opposition

M.P.S absent from the swearing-in. They have denied they are boycotting the ceremony, citing other commitments for their non-attendance. “Long, long ago, I committed myself to go to north Queensland and unfortunately I can’t be at two places at once,” Mr Sinclair said. As a Minister in the Whitlam Government

sacked by the then Gover-nor-General, Sir John Kerr, Mr Hayden denied he had “sold out” in accepting the vice-regal post.

He also denied last year ever being a republican, but said he regretted making derisive comments about the office of Governor-General in the wake of the Whitlam Government’s dismissal in 1975.