KNIGHTS and dames are being reintroduced to the Order of Australia honours list.

Tony Abbott said the first two to receive the titles would be outgoing Governor-General Quentin Bryce and her successor Peter Cosgrove, who takes up the vice-regal office on Friday.

Up to four knights or dames will be appointed each year.

“My intention is that this new award will go to those who have accepted public office rather than sought it; and who can never, by virtue of the office they have held, entirely return to private life,’’ the Prime Minister said.

“This special recognition may be extended to Australians of `extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit’ in their service to Australia or to humanity at large.

“I believe this is an important grace note in our national life.’’

Henceforth, Mr Abbott said, the serving governor-general will be the principal knight or dame in the Order of Australia.

Mr Abbott said Dame Quentin and Sir Peter had been happy to accept the honours.

He said all future governors-general would receive the honour, adding dignity and stature to it.

Mr Abbott did not say if former governors-general would receive the honour.

He did not rule out politicians becoming a knight or dame, saying he didn’t want to pre-empt who may be considered worthy of the honour.

Mr Abbott defended his decision, saying it would enhance the dignity of the existing system.

“I don’t think it’s really any surprise,’’ he said.

The Prime Minister said the Queen had approved his recommendation to amend the Letters Patent constituting the Order of Australia.

The chairman of the Order of Australia Council will be consulted on any such recommendation.

Mr Abbott said the change would not affect existing companions, officers or members of the Order of Australia.

New Zealand had allowed existing Companions in the Order of New Zealand to convert to knighthoods, but this would not happen with the Australian changes, he said.

Knights and dames of the Order of Australia were created by the Fraser Coalition government in 1976, but scrapped by the Hawke Labor government in 1986. During that period 12 knights and two dames were appointed.

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said the move showed the government was rushing back to the 19th century.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/knights-and-dames-to-again-be-part-of-honours-system/story-fn59niix-1226864499560

Tony Abbott: "I am introducing the title Sir. Then i am going to appoint myself as one and you will all have to bow down to me whilst i stand on the beach in my budgie smugglers."


On a side note, not against the idea. It must go to deserving people though. Can totally see this being abused and the likes of John Howard, Anna Bligh, Campbell Newman being awarded this.

What a fucking joke. Are we Australians or Britain's little brother? What a backward step.

It's bad enough another country's flag is on our flag and now this. When will will grow up?

What next? Pictures of the Queen above the door in schools again and God Save the Queen as our national anthem? I'm old enough to remember these things at school and when they were phased out and now this fool is bringing them back.

We already have a perfectly good system in place. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Australia




Edited by munrubenmuz: 25/3/2014 05:52:24 PM

Well they've started with a leftie in Quentin Bryce.

Not against the idea. I suppose Munrubenmuz would prefer we changed the title to "Cobber" to make it less British sounding.

Cobber Howard? It might catch on.

I say we make Kevin airs a sir !!!

What is wrong with Dr Teo A.O.?

We're Australian not British. Against a republic too?

Sir Archie Thompson ayyyy

[youtube]1wg9ox9F7Vw[/youtube]

Assuming it's just for living recipients, my first thoughts are:
Ian Frazer (Cervical cancer vaccine)
Elizabeth Blackburn (2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)
Barry J. Marshall (2005 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)
J. Robin Warren (2005 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)
Peter C. Doherty (1996 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)
Brian P. Schmidt (2011 Nobel Prize for Physics, proved the the accelerating expansion of the Universe)

Lots of artists should get it for their contribution, my best knowledge is of our film industry and would include Baz Luhrmann,Peter Weir, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Geoffrey Rush, Hugh Jackman, Andrew Lesnie...

And then the sticker topic of athletes. I think nobody would be against having a Dame Cathy Freeman, but how about Sir Steven Bradbury, Mark Waugh, Ange Postecoglue?

:oops:

Solid argument.

Probably his best yet though tbf :lol:

I'm not sure how old you blokes are but just to explain why I'm going off here's a bit of background.

In the 70's when I grew up Australians had the hugest cultural cringe you could imagine. We were always looking to Britain and the mother country for approval. Our art, architecture, science and any achievement you could think of was no good unless it got the nod of approval from someone in the UK.

God Save the Queen was the national anthem and we sang it every day when the flag was raised. There was a picture of the Queen over every doorway at school and just about every where else.

ABC presenters spoke with a British accent as Australian accents were deemed inappropriate for the radio.

Everything in Australia was looked at through the prism of the UK. It was only in 1965 that our PM Robert Menzies declared Australians "British to our bootstraps".

In the 60's pre-decimal currency the "royal" was proposed to replace the "pounds" after decimalisation. Fortunately saner heads prevailed and we got 'dollars' instead.

We've been shafted in 2 World Wars by the British (didn't even have command of our own troops in WW1 until 1918), we didn't have our own flag and we'd just gotten out of another war that we'd been dragged into by our new best friends the USA.

1988 came along and a wave of patriotism swept the country and for a short while it looked like we'd become a republic and have our own flag.

Paul Keating was hugely responsible for a lot of Australian pride back in the day. Keating explained why we should stand on our own 2 feet as a proud, multicultural, young independent country.

The monarchy is an outdated, anachronistic institution based on a lottery of birth that has had it's day.

And now after all the progress we've made somehow we're going back to the 50's.

It's very disappointing.






Edited by munrubenmuz: 25/3/2014 06:37:40 PM

If we are actually going to go with it theres things that people dont really need a knighthood for. What is so mighty about a contribution to sport or music that deserves the title?

Constitutional Monarchy is the best system, why would we leave it?

Arise sir ricecrackers.. wait he probably be embarrassed with this whole shit .

couldnt care less either way
some of those nominations though, well in fact most of them are :oops:

I bet you sit down when you wee

i bet you use a lot of velcro in your everyday life

i bet you use a lot of velcro in your everyday life

ricecrackers is butthurt again.

if anyone here is butthurt its you following me around looking for e-revenge at your multiple failures
its not my fault by the way, you do it to yourself

i've nothing personal against you

You're the guy who hasn't managed to back up a single claim he's made in the last two weeks with a shred of evidence. That is by the very definition, failure.

Sir Leigh Broxham has a nice ring to it...

Thought we would have tired of being ruled by an inbred German family, but alas, some still revere their chains.

do i need to provide a link to a stupid website or dopey article to claim that 1+1=2?

you seriously cannot think for yourself can you? that's a rhetorical question by the way, you may want to google what that means

couldnt care less either way
some of those nominations though, well in fact most of them are :oops:

Assuming it's just for living recipients, my first thoughts are:
Ian Frazer (Cervical cancer vaccine)
Elizabeth Blackburn (2009 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)
Barry J. Marshall (2005 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)
J. Robin Warren (2005 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)
Peter C. Doherty (1996 Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine)
Brian P. Schmidt (2011 Nobel Prize for Physics, proved the the accelerating expansion of the Universe)

Lots of artists should get it for their contribution, my best knowledge is of our film industry and would include Baz Luhrmann,Peter Weir, Cate Blanchett, Nicole Kidman, Geoffrey Rush, Hugh Jackman, Andrew Lesnie...

And then the sticker topic of athletes. I think nobody would be against having a Dame Cathy Freeman, but how about Sir Steven Bradbury, Mark Waugh, Ange Postecoglue?

Nothing wrong with Dame or Sir.

http://www.ouridentity.org.au/

FAQ. http://www.ouridentity.org.au/q%26a

And while we're at it. http://www.ausflag.com.au/

Even the bloody Kiwis are going to get there first. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11217658

Edited by munrubenmuz: 25/3/2014 09:52:41 PM

Under maintainece so i can't access it.

Anyway, our identity is part of the British empire.... That's our cultural heritage. Claiming otherwise is to forget about our history as a nation.

Under maintainece so i can't access it.

Anyway, our identity is part of the British empire.... That's our cultural heritage. Claiming otherwise is to forget about our history as a nation.

When the referendum happened years ago I thought at the time we should stay in the Commonwealth solely because I saw the idea of war as being scary for us, being so isolated, and thought Britain were one of the only nations that would help us out.

But after the Iraq/Afghanistan stuff - I feel completely comfortable with America saving our butts and nowadays I don't feel like Britain has enough to offer us to continue flying their flag. So I am a casual fan of becoming a Republic.

So this sir/dame thing - not exactly my cup of tea tbh, as it seems to be just an attempt to strengthen the non-republic ties.

When the referendum happened years ago I thought at the time we should stay in the Commonwealth solely because I saw the idea of war as being scary for us, being so isolated, and thought Britain were one of the only nations that would help us out.

But after the Iraq/Afghanistan stuff - I feel completely comfortable with America saving our butts and nowadays I don't feel like Britain has enough to offer us to continue flying their flag. So I am a casual fan of becoming a Republic.

So this sir/dame thing - not exactly my cup of tea tbh, as it seems to be just an attempt to strengthen the non-republic ties.

Paul Keating once said "we have to find our security within Asia, not from it.

It's hard for us to be better friends with Asian countries when the message we send is "we're bringing back British Knighthoods, and we're changing the law so people can racially vilify Asians".

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when Tony Abbott has to explain this bullshit to President Yudhuyono, or President Xi Jinping, or Prime Minister Abe. Or even Barack Obama.

I heard this morning that he never consulted his cabinet before going public with this. Turnbull would be apoplectic I'd imagine.

Hard to imagine what republican liberal premiers such as Barnett in WA and the new bloke in Tassie think about all this.

They belong to another era and are a throwback to another countries honours system

What is wrong with simply having an AO as our highest honour? We're Australian not British.

It's like introducing a medal now that is more prestigious and honourable than the Victoria Cross. All that does is cheapen every winner of that by making it the second highest honour.

Australia did away with the term Queen's Counsel in 1994 and now (of course) in Qld they've restored that too. We're going backwards.

Meanwhile in NZ they're having a referendum to change the flag.

Do yourself a favour and watch the Keating video above.

Keating video? I lived right through his prime ministership, such as it was. Talk about focusing on minor issues while the economy was in the toilet!

If I never hear from that clown again it'll be too soon.

Wouldnt the bold be an ample description of this action by Abbott?

On a serious note, if an Englishman got Archie's record they'd knight him quick smart.

Brilliant post Lastbroadcast.

A few of the younger blokes should watch the great man in action here.

Parliament was so much better then.

[youtube]gc96KVsTKtY[/youtube] (Keating in full flight berating the opposition about cultural cringe.)

How the hell do you embed a youtube video? I've dropped the embed code in and she's not coming up.




Edited by munrubenmuz: 26/3/2014 09:54:04 AM

If anything, I hope this ridiculous notion brings the republican debate front and centre again. Long long overdue.

Can tell by reading through this thread how little it resonates with younger people. Apathetic responses at best.

Paul Keating once said "we have to find our security within Asia, not from it.

It's hard for us to be better friends with Asian countries when the message we send is "we're bringing back British Knighthoods, and we're changing the law so people can racially vilify Asians".

I'd love to be a fly on the wall when Tony Abbott has to explain this bullshit to President Yudhuyono, or President Xi Jinping, or Prime Minister Abe. Or even Barack Obama.

The news makes me angry and confused :(

I'm pro republican, but have no real issue with this. Those criticizing athletes/artists being awarded them, it actually adds to the significance of doctors/scientists etc being awarded them. It publicicses their achievement and helps to put them on the same level as these other national heroes in the general publics eyes.

The reality for the pro republican movement is that Will becoming King will be a massive boost for the monarchy. I think it will be a long time yet before we become a republic sadly

The title of Sir and Dame is actually quiet regal, and adds some class to the joint.

It’s now easy to spot the classless bogan, as they are simply whinging about this announcement.

The fact that this has caused some much comment is a case of how bogan this country now really is.

The title of Sir and Dame is actually quiet regal, and adds some class to the joint.

It’s now easy to spot the classless bogan, as they are simply whinging about this announcement.

The fact that this has caused some much comment is a case of how bogan this country now really is.

The title of Sir and Dame is actually quiet regal, and adds some class to the joint.

It’s now easy to spot the classless bogan, as they are simply whinging about this announcement.

The fact that this has caused some much comment is a case of how bogan this country now really is.

You do realise australia is a classless society . We don't have a class system ,more a rich v poor . We don't have aristocracy

I do . But we don't have that old stuffy very English aristocracy . We have millionaires yes but they are not old money

Agree but the country was set out to be a classless society .

Dude I studied australian history . Australia was always supposed to be a classless society .

I had it in a text book . Also had debates in class about it . Was supposed to be a classless society . The rich back then did dress down as they wanted to be one of the workers ie a normal person . This country was a new one . Most people didn't want to bring old world society . If I can remember which book I'll post it

I'm not having a go I'm just interested in what you're saying as that's not my understanding.

I read the excellent 'Fatal Shore' by Robert Hughes which is on of the definitive texts on convict Australia and from memory I don't remember that.