Mr Hollingworth has weathered calls for his head before

Australia's Governor-General, Peter Hollingworth, does not intend to resign over a report criticising his handling of a child sex abuse scandal in the 1990s, a spokesman said on Monday.

Mr Hollingworth has been under pressure since the report was released last week and criticised him for failing to act appropriately in at least two cases of abuse when he was the Archbishop of Brisbane.

In particular, the report said he had committed a "grave error of judgment" by allowing a known paedophile to continue working as a priest.

Several senior government officials have appeared to add their voices to those of opposition MPs and members of the public who have called for Mr Hollingsworth to step down.

But a spokesman for Mr Hollingworth told the Australian media that the Governor-General intended to stay in his position - a largely official post as Queen Elizabeth's representative in Australia - and that he was conducting his job "in good conscience".

Prime Minister John Howard said there was no legal basis for him to advise the Queen to dismiss Mr Hollingworth.

The Queen appoints and dismisses Australia's governor-general on the prime minister's recommendation.

Mr Howard, who is due to meet the Queen on Tuesday during a visit to Britain, refused to say whether he would discuss the matter with her.

'Lapse of judgement'

Mr Hollingworth's critics appear to be increasing in number by the day.

On Sunday, both Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson and Treasurer Peter Costello said he should weigh up his future.

Mr Anderson said the governor-general had been guilty of a "serious lapse of judgment".

Small Business Minister Joe Hockey said Mr Hollingworth had "to very, very carefully consider the interests of the nation".

Mr Hollingworth himself, however, seems determined to tough it out, says the BBC correspondent in Sydney, Dominic Hughes.

He fended off calls for his resignation before, when he was accused of attempting to hide sex abuse by priests within his diocese in February 2002.

David Flint, national convenor of the Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy, said he thought Mr Hollingworth would stay on.

"If he was to give in, it would send the message that all you have to do is campaign against somebody to get him out of office," Mr Flint said.

While constitutional experts agree there are no grounds for Mr Hollingworth's dismissal, some argue that the scandal is damaging the office of governor-general, our correspondent says.