Four people have been appointed to the highest level of the Order of Australia, including former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and controversial tennis great Margaret Court.
The news of Court’s second Australia Day honour was leaked late last week, days before the embargo on the awards were due to be lifted, resulting in widespread backlash due to the former tennis champion’s outspoken views on homosexuality and gay marriage.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews on Friday said Court’s “disgraceful and hurtful” views should not be honoured with a promotion to Companion of the Order of Australia, while Prime Minister Scott Morrison refused to comment on the decision.
Mr Turnbull, meanwhile, was appointed a Companion of the Order for his service to Australians, through “significant contributions to national security, free trade, the environment and clean energy, innovation, economic reform and marriage equality, and to business and philanthropy.”
The former prime minister oversaw the 2017 same-sex marriage plebiscite, which resulted in the legalisation of gay marriage.
But advocates have long criticised the process as being needlessly harmful to LGBTIQ+ Australians, and criticised Mr Turnbull for not pursuing a conscience vote in Parliament.
All past Australian prime ministers have been offered the honour – the highest level of appointment to the Order of Australia – since the modern Australian Honours System was introduced in 1975.
Victorian Rabbi John Levi and Emeritus Professor Cheryl Praeger, from Western Australia, were also promoted to Companion of the Order for their contribution to the advancement of interfaith understanding and women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) careers, respectively.
“I’m feeling a mixture of all sorts of things, very excited, honoured, humbled,” Professor Praeger told SBS News. “It’s a wonderful thing that the importance of mathematics is being recognised.”
Almost 850 Australians were recognised in this year’s Australia Day Honours, including 571 who received awards in the General Division of the Order of Australia.
These include the first Australians to be recognised for their leadership during the Black Summer bushfires and coronavirus pandemic.
Other recipients were recognised for their contribution to multiculturalism and human rights advocacy. Former Socceroo and SBS presenter Craig Foster was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his “significant service to multiculturalism, human rights, refugee support organisations, and football”.
He told SBS News he hoped the “really special” honour would “provide further resonance” to his advocacy for vulnerable people.
“I dedicate it to those refugees in particular, who have been demonised, and attacked, and incarcerated for almost eight years now,” he said.
“It’s really they who are deserving of awards, they’re deserving of recognition for their resilience and their strength and their capability to get through what’s been an incredibly torturous period.”
Refugee advocate Craig Foster with former immigration detainee Farhad Bandesh.
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The youngest person to be appointed to the Order was 24-year-old Indigenous performer Danzal Baker, known by his stage name Baker Boy, who was recognised for his contribution to performing arts.
Baker Boy, a singer, songwriter and dancer from Arnhem Land who performs in both Yolngu Matha and English, was named the Young Australian of the Year in 2019 for inspiring young Indigenous Australians to embrace their heritage
“Over the last 12 months we have seen outstanding examples of achievement and service to the community as we have confronted fires and the COVID-19 pandemic,” Governor-General David Hurley said.
“The individuals we celebrate today come from all parts of our great nation and have served the community in almost every way conceivable. They’re diverse and unique but there are some common characteristics, including selflessness, commitment and dedication.”
More work to be done on gender equality
But the Governor-General conceded that more needed to be done to ensure the Order of Australia reflected the “diversity and breadth” of the community, including when it comes to the gender of the recipients.
Of all people who received honours in the general division of the Order of Australia, only 37 per cent were women while 63 per cent were men.
“More needs to be done to achieve gender parity and increase diversity in other areas,” Governor-General Hurley said.
“Over the last 12 months, I’ve initiated various initiatives in this regard to encourage people and organisations to nominate individuals they think are worthy.”
Professor Praeger, one of two women appointed Companion to the Order this year, said she’s seen a lot of progress in gender representation over the course of her career but added: “I don’t think we’re there yet”.
“I’m just hoping that with the visibility that some of these awards might create, that might encourage other women or people to nominate worthy women and make it more accessible and equal,” she said.
Anyone can nominate someone for an award in the Order of Australia through the Governor-General’s website.
“My strong message to the community is that if you know someone that is worthy, take the time to nominate them. People cannot be recognised if they’re not nominated and that has to be driven from the community,” Governor-General Hurley said.
