Editing Order of Australia (section)

==History==

=== Background ===
As a member of the British Empire, members of the colonies and later federated nation of Australia were able to have achievement awarded under the [[Orders, decorations, and medals of the United Kingdom|British Imperial Honours system]]. However, existing criticism of the aristocratic nature of the awards grew following a [[David Lloyd George#Domestic crises|cash-for-honours corruption scandal]] in the UK in 1922. Moves to abolish the awards federally and the states were unsuccessful; however the [[Australian Labor Party]] remained opposed and generally refused to recommend awards whilst in office, with this a part of the party's platform since 1918. This was confirmed in a resolution adopted unanimously by the party conference in 1921.<ref>{{cite news |date=17 October 1921 |title=A.L.P. Congress: No More Honours for Australians |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article15965076 |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |location=New South Wales, Australia |page=9 |via=[[National Library of Australia]]}}</ref> In 1949, a Cabinet subcommittee of the Labor [[Chifley government]] recommended the creation of single level honour called the ''Order of the Southern Cross'' or the ''Order of the Golden Wattle'' to be established at Australia's jubilee of federation in 1951.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fox |first=Karen |title=Honouring a nation: a history of Australia's honours system |date=2022 |publisher=Australian National University Press |others=Australian National University Press |isbn=978-1-76046-500-1 |location=Canberra, ACT, Australia |chapter=In war and peace, 1939–1967 |chapter-url=https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/n9544/html/ch05.xhtml}}</ref> However, the Labor government lost office in the [[1949 Australian federal election|1949 elections]], replaced by the long running [[Menzies government (1949–1966)|Menzies government]] who supported the continued use of the imperial system.

=== Establishment ===
[[File:Orders of Australia on a table.jpg|thumb|Several insignias for the Member of the Order of Australia (AM) to be granted]]
The Order of Australia was established on 14 February 1975 by [[letters patent]] of [[Queen Elizabeth II of Australia|Queen Elizabeth II]], acting as [[Monarchy of Australia|Queen of Australia]], and on the [[Advice (constitutional law)|advice]] of the newly elected Labor [[Prime Minister of Australia|prime minister]], [[Gough Whitlam]]. The original order had three levels: Companion (AC), Officer (AO) and Member (AM) as well as two divisions: Civil Division and Military Division. Whitlam had previously announced in 1972 (on his third day in office) that his government would no longer nominate persons for British Imperial honours (with the exception of awards recommended by the soon to be independent government of the [[Territory of Papua and New Guinea]]); however this did not affect the constitutional right of state governments to recommend imperial awards. 

According to the governor general's then-secretary [[David Smith (public servant)|Sir David Smith]], Whitlam was furious when he first saw Devlin's design for the insignia of the order, due to the inclusion of a representation of the states (with whom Whitlam's government was constantly in dispute) through the [[Australian heraldry#Badges|state badges]] within the [[Commonwealth Coat of Arms]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=David |author-link=David Smith (public servant) |date=22 July 2007 |title=The Chameleon Crown: The Queen and Her Australian Governors |url=https://norepublic.com.au/the-chameleon-crown-the-queen-and-her-australian-governors-2/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231106112355/https://norepublic.com.au/the-chameleon-crown-the-queen-and-her-australian-governors-2/ |archive-date=6 November 2023 |access-date=2023-11-25 |website=[[Australians for Constitutional Monarchy]]}}</ref>

The original three-level structure of the Order of Australia was modelled closely upon the [[Order of Canada]],<ref>{{cite book |last=Barwick |first=Garfield |title=[[A Radical Tory: Garfield Barwick's Reflections and Recollections]] |date=1995 |publisher=Federation Press |isbn=978-1-86287-236-3 |page=266}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Duke |first=Suzanne |title=Debrett's Handbook of Australia and New Zealand |date=1984 |publisher=Debrett's Peerage |isbn=0-313-26126-1 |page=47}}</ref> though the Order of Australia has been awarded rather more liberally, especially in regard to honorary awards to non-citizens. {{As of|2024|July}} only [[Honorary appointments to the Order of Canada|30 non-Canadians]] have been appointed to the Order of Canada, while 537 non-Australians have been appointed to the Order of Australia, with 46 to the Companion level.

Public reaction to the new awards was mixed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fox |first=Karen |url=https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/honouring-nation |title=Honouring a Nation: A History of Australia's Honours System |date=Jan 2022 |publisher=ANU Press |isbn=9781760465001 |pages=171–9 |language=en}}</ref> Only the state Labor governments of Tasmania and South Australia agreed to submit recommendations for the new awards, with the remaining governments affirming their committent to the existing imperial honours system. Newspaper editorials similarly praised the awards as an example of Australia's greater independence, whilst also noting that the awards would likely appear second-rate.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Curran |first1=James |title=The Unknown Nation: Australia After Empire |last2=Ward |first2=Stuart |date=2010 |publisher=Melbourne University Publishing |isbn=978-0-522-85645-3 |edition= |location=Carlton, Vic |pages=216–221 |language=en}}</ref> ''[[The Australian]]'' stated that

{{Blockquote|text=There is no longer a British Empire; everyone knows that. But somehow the phrase "imperial honours" still carries a ring of regal authenticity that somehow transcends nationalism. For the time being a recipient{{nbs}}... of the Order of Australia is likely to feel a bit second-rate, and the public is likely to agree. We hate to be the first to say it, but there is no doubt that the Order of Australia (OA) will be labelled as the Ocker Award.}}

Satire and mockery also greeted the awards, being dubbed "Gough’s Gongs" and "the Order of the Wombat".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fox |first=Karen |url=https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/honouring-nation |title=Honouring a Nation: A History of Australia's Honours System |date=Jan 2022 |publisher=ANU Press |isbn=9781760465001 |page=177 |language=en}}</ref> 

=== Fraser and Hawke governments ===
Nine months after the Order of Australia was created, the Whitlam government lost office to the newly elected Liberal [[Fraser government]]. The new government decided to once again make recommendations for imperial awards, whilst maintaining and expanding the Order of Australia.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fox |first=Karen |url=https://press.anu.edu.au/publications/honouring-nation |title=Honouring a Nation: A History of Australia's Honours System |date=Jan 2022 |publisher=ANU Press |isbn=9781760465001 |pages=190– |language=en}}</ref> This was done by with the addition of two additional award levels: [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Australia#Classes|Knight or Dame]] (AK or AD) above the level of Companion, and the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) below Members. The Civil Division was also renamed the General Division, so that awards could be given to those in the [[Australian Defence Force|Defence Force]] for non-military achievement. These changes were made on 24 May 1976. The reaction to the changes to the awards were similarly split along party lines. 

Following [[1983 Australian federal election|the 1983 federal election]], Labor Prime Minister [[Bob Hawke]] recommitted to the end of recommendations for imperial awards. No knighthoods were awarded during his first term in office and he advised the abolition of the knight/dame level after being re-elected in 1986. During the time the division was active from 1976 to 1983, twelve knights and two dames were created.

=== Re-establishment and abolition of Knights and Dames ===
[[File:The Prince of Wales in Brisbane, 1983.jpg|thumb|right|upright|King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) wearing the insignia of a Knight of the Order of Australia, 1983]][[File:Coat of Arms of Ninian Martin Stephen.svg|thumb|The neck badge of a Knight of the Order of Australia appeared at the base of the coat of arms of [[Ninian Stephen|Sir Ninian Stephen]].]]

On 19 March 2014, monarchist prime minister [[Tony Abbott]] advised the Queen to reinstate the level of knight or dame and the Queen co-signed letters patent to bring this into effect. The change was publicly announced on 25 March, and gazetted on 17 April 2014.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2014G00635/ |title=Letters Patent amending the Constitution of the Order of Australia |website=Government Notices Gazette C2014G00635 |date=17 April 2014 |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |access-date=20 January 2017 |archive-date=2 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102053616/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2014G00635 |url-status=live }}</ref> Up to four knights or dames could be appointed each year, by the Monarch of Australia on the advice of the prime minister after consultation with the chairman of the Order of Australia Council.<ref name="SMH2014">{{cite web |title=Knights, dames return under Abbott |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325113330/http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/knights-dames-return-under-abbott-20140325-35fy0.html|archive-date=25 March 2014|date= 25 March 2014 |access-date= 25 March 2014 |newspaper= The Sydney Morning Herald  |url= http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/knights-and-dames-back-in-australia-20140325-35fy0.html }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title= A new honour for pre-eminent Australians |work= Media release |publisher= Office of the Prime Minister of Australia |date= 25 March 2014 |url= http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2014-03-25/new-honour-pre-eminent-australians |access-date= 25 March 2014 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140325130621/http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2014-03-25/new-honour-pre-eminent-australians |archive-date= 25 March 2014 }}</ref>

Five awards of knight and dame were then made, to the outgoing [[Governor-General of Australia|governor-general]], [[Quentin Bryce]]; her successor, [[Peter Cosgrove]]; a recent [[Chief of the Defence Force (Australia)|chief of the Defence Force]], [[Angus Houston]]; a recent [[governor of New South Wales]], [[Marie Bashir]]; and [[Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh|Prince Philip]]. This last award was widely met with ridicule and dismay by many in the Australian media.<ref>{{cite news|last=Safi|first=Michael|date=3 February 2015|title=How giving Prince Philip a knighthood left Australia's PM fighting for survival|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/03/how-giving-prince-philip-a-knighthood-left-australias-pm-fighting-for-survival|access-date=28 February 2021|archive-date=3 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211103010618/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/feb/03/how-giving-prince-philip-a-knighthood-left-australias-pm-fighting-for-survival|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-01-27 |title=Australian media scorn Prince Philip 'Knightmare' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-30996110 |access-date=2024-07-01 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> The award was also heavily criticised in the community, with 72% disapproving and 12% in favour of the award to Prince Philip in a [[ReachTEL]] poll.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beaumont |first=Adrian |date=2015-01-28 |title=Abbott's Ratings Slump Following "Knightmare" Affair |url=http://theconversation.com/abbotts-ratings-slump-following-knightmare-affair-36840 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref>

The [[Australian Labor Party]] continued to oppose knighthoods and damehoods. Leader of the opposition [[Bill Shorten]] stated in March 2014 that the party would again discontinue the level if it were to win the next Australian federal election.<ref>{{cite news|last=Knott|first=Matthew|title=Bill Shorten would reverse reinstatement of knights and dames if elected prime minister|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bill-shorten-would-reverse-reinstatement-of-knights-and-dames-if-elected-prime-minister-20140328-35mtn.html|access-date=3 August 2014|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=28 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605115335/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/bill-shorten-would-reverse-reinstatement-of-knights-and-dames-if-elected-prime-minister-20140328-35mtn.html|archive-date=5 June 2014}}</ref>

The knighthood decision was a significant factor that caused Liberal party members to question Abbott's leadership,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grattan |first=Michelle |date=2015-02-07 |title=Explainer: why is Australian prime minister Tony Abbott facing a leadership crisis? |url=http://theconversation.com/explainer-why-is-australian-prime-minister-tony-abbott-facing-a-leadership-crisis-37323 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=[[ABC News (Australia)]] |date=2024-01-29 |title=When Tony Abbott Gave Prince Philip a Knighthood |url=https://www.instagram.com/reel/C2rJ_fFPSQ5/ |access-date= |website=Instagram |series=[[Nemesis (Australian TV series)|Nemesis]]}}</ref> with Malcolm Turnbull succeeding in a challenge to take the prime ministership in September 2015. Two months after coming into office, the new republican prime minister announced that the Queen had approved his request to amend the Order's [[letters patent]] and cease awards at this level.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-02/knights-and-dames-to-be-scrapped/6904474 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418043230/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-11-02/knights-and-dames-to-be-scrapped/6904474|archive-date=18 April 2016|title=Knights and dames scrapped from Order of Australia, Malcolm Turnbull says |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |last1=Norman|first1= Jane |last2=Iggulden|first2= Tom |date=2 November 2015 |access-date=2 November 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/02/knights-and-dames-removed-from-order-of-australia-by-malcolm-turnbull|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305044211/http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/nov/02/knights-and-dames-removed-from-order-of-australia-by-malcolm-turnbull|archive-date=5 March 2016 |title=Knights and dames removed from Order of Australia by Malcolm Turnbull |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |location=Australia |last=Medhora|first=Shalailah  |date=2 November 2015 |access-date=2 November 2015 }}</ref> Existing titles would not be affected.<ref name=SMH2015>{{cite news|title=Malcolm Turnbull scraps Tony Abbott's Knights and Dames|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-scraps-tony-abbotts-knights-and-dames-20151101-gkodek.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160107004242/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbull-scraps-tony-abbotts-knights-and-dames-20151101-gkodek.html|archive-date=7 January 2016|first=Latika|last=Bourke|author-link=Latika Bourke|date=2 November 2015|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> The move was attacked by monarchists<ref>{{cite news|title=Malcolm Turnbull's 1999 referendum loss behind dumping knights and dames: David Flint|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbulls-1999-referendum-loss-behind-dumping-knights-and-dames-david-flint-20151102-gkofvb.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=2 November 2015|access-date=2 November 2015|archive-date=10 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161110051249/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/malcolm-turnbulls-1999-referendum-loss-behind-dumping-knights-and-dames-david-flint-20151102-gkofvb.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and praised by republicans.<ref>{{cite news|last=FitzSimons|first=Peter|title=By scrapping knights and dames, the Age of Turnbull has returned us to 2015|url=http://www.smh.com.au/comment/by-scrapping-knights-and-dames-the-age-of-turnbull-has-returned-us-to-2015-20151102-gkok7j.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105020024/http://www.smh.com.au/comment/by-scrapping-knights-and-dames-the-age-of-turnbull-has-returned-us-to-2015-20151102-gkok7j.html#ixzz3qIi2uO8G|archive-date=5 November 2015|date=2 November 2015|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Malcolm Turnbull clears the royal barnacle and starts a debate Tony Abbott never could have|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/malcolm-turnbull-clears-the-royal-barnacle-and-starts-a-debate-tony-abbott-never-could-have-20151102-gkohlb.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|first=Mark|last=Kenny|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151105013050/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-opinion/malcolm-turnbull-clears-the-royal-barnacle-and-starts-a-debate-tony-abbott-never-could-have-20151102-gkohlb.html#ixzz3qIg68SQ8|archive-date=5 November 2015|date=2 November 2015|access-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> The amendments to the constitution of the Order were gazetted on 22 December 2015.<ref name=kdgazette>[https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2015G02163 Amendments to the Constitution of the Order of Australia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102074357/https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2015G02163/ |date=2 November 2021 }}, ''[[Commonwealth of Australia Gazette]]'' C2015G02163, 22 December 2015.</ref>

=== 2015 to present ===
[[Yvonne Kenny]] {{Post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} represented the Order at the [[Coronation of Charles III and Camilla|2023 Coronation]].<ref>{{cite news |date=5 May 2023 |title=Coronation order of service in full |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65503950 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506001110/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-65503950 |archive-date=6 May 2023 |access-date=6 May 2023 |work=BBC News}}</ref>