Smith, the Archbishop of Adelaide, won handily in ballots cast electronically because of COVID-19 restrictions, three weeks after a deadlocked electoral board failed to reach a majority in all three houses.
Philip Freier's early resignation allows a new primate to be elected before this summer's General Synod, which will likely respond to respond to endorsements of same-sex marriage in two dioceses while aiming to preserve unity as a "mixed economy church."
Wangaratta Bishop John Parkes will comply with the Australian primate's request to wait until the church's Appellate Tribunal renders a judgment on his diocese's authorization of same-sex marriages.
