Australia is a free society, so the elegant GG can say what she likes.
However, at no stage did she support polygamy.

Polygamy will never be supported in this country, because it is wanted by some old men who fancy their 'god' said they should be having several young wives to have sex with as they please.
There's never any mention of an old women being allowed by some 'god' to have several young male husbands is there? (Not that many would want that!)

That load of rubbish 'marriage' is not always between 'consenting' adults either, as quite often the women are neither consenting or adult!

Gay marriage is between two consenting adults...quite a different scenario.

"""
Australia is a free society, so the elegant GG can say what she likes.
"""

Not quite! As an Australian she has a right like anyone to voice her opinions but as Governor General she is not. The Governor General is suppose to be Apolitical and thus must not support one side or another, it's right there in the rule book!

For Abbott to accept these opinions as Governor General is worrying.
I understand his acceptance of her role until her term is up, (being only a short time) whilst having a conflict of interest. But to accept her opposing political views as Governor General in this time is wrong!

What's interesting is seeing all the lefties sticking up for this wretch because her opinions fall on their side of the debate. If however she had said something like global warming is crap, they'd all be crying foul like the typical hypocrites they are

Quentin Bryce did offer her resignation on the change in government and her reasons for independently arriving at her conclusion that there could be a perception conflict of interest should be returned to.

The expectation in return was that she had the capacity to avoid such possible perceptions arising in the future.

Consequently, it is odd that she had to make the remarks while still in Office, when the end is months away. Given that she was previously sensitive to ensuring that the GG should be above politics and being seen to be so.

No-one has said anything about how nations in our region especially might perceive the head of State apparently being at odds with the PM and government. What about the Asian perception of loss of face?

Deucedly wretched timing for the GG to risk controversy and start any hares running when the PM and government of the day are embroiled in managing an embarrassing disagreement with an Asian neighbour. One caused by the previous government, too.

I don't know that the PM was left with any option but to play the remarks down. Should the PM have been put in that position in the first place is something that will be debated for a long time to come.

He should just sack her OTB and then send Rudd, Whatshername, and the rest of the traitorous labour party to Indonesia to deliver his apology on their behalf. And whilst his at it, he could uphold the law and have Mark Scott charged under Section 79 (1c) of the Crimes Act

Section 79 (1c) of the Crimes Act makes it unlawful for a person to “communicate” the contents of a document to a person who they “ought to know” is not authorised to receive the contents of that document (emphasised words straight from the legislation).

He's showing himself to be weak in my view. It's high time we started following the rule of law and clean up this place of all the criminal parasites in .gov!

Why is she a 'wretch', RawMustard? Because you dislike her and her opinions? There are many apt things you could call her, but 'wretch' isn't really one of them.

otb,

Never mind about the issue and its connection with the PM

I'm sure he's got far more important things on his mind at the moment.

Like writing his Christmas wish list to Santa requesting that famous, but not much requested, book "Diplomacy for Dummies".

(In case you're about to flick your "faux outrage" switch, that wuz supposed to be humorous.)