The Archbishop of Brisbane, the Most Rev Phillip Aspinall, has been elected primate of the Anglican Church of Australia in Sydney today.

The General Synod’s Board of Electors, comprised of all diocesan bishops along with 12 elected clergy and 12 elected laity, selected Archbishop Aspinall from a wide range of candidates including Archbishop of Sydney, the Most Rev Peter Jensen.

Archbishop Aspinall will hold office until the next General Synod, to be held in 2007.

As primate, he will chair the General Synod and represent the Australian church to the general public and in a number of Anglican Communion forums.

Archbishop Aspinall will continue to fulfil his duties as Archbishop of Brisbane as the position of primate is not a full-time one.

He will hold his first media conference as primate at the Chevalier Resource Centre in Kensington, Sydney at 3PM tomorrow.

Full details of his appointment can be found by visiting media releases.