Knights and Dames no real place in the ‘Asian Century’

By Ross B. Taylor

Australia has, over the past thirty years, worked hard to project ourselves as a modern, multi-cultural and outward thinking nation whose future rests in Asia.

Our Prime Minister's decision last week to 'turn-back the clock' by reinstating the  British system of Knights and Dames, will send a confusing signal to our region.

Whilst most of our regional neighbours will outwardly dismiss Mr Abbott’s personal decision as 'unimportant', at a deeper level it will reinforce the (incorrect) stereo-type that despite our rhetoric Australia is still very much an Anglo-Saxon nation strongly connected to its British past, and unsure about our desire to being a vibrant and leading part of the Asian Century.

And at home, Mr Abbott's decision has diminished the standing of those people who have been previously awarded highest honour - an AC or a Companion of the Order of Australia.
This select group of eminent Australians who hold the ‘AC ‘ title were, until last week, recognised as those Australians who, through an independent and rigorous process, were chosen as our most respected and honoured citizens. Now they have been relegated into second place by the appointment by the Queen of England (Australia) of a Knight and a Dame.

This is demeaning to the people who received these awards under a truly Australian Honour system; not some archaic British system that resembles an episode of ‘Yes Minister’.

Even our former Liberal prime minister, John Howard and WA's Liberal premier Colin Barnett have publically disagreed with what Mr Abbott has done without any consultation with the people of Australia, his party or cabinet.

This is the Prime Minister that, upon being elected to lead our country said, “This will be a government of no surprises”.

Mr Abbott was also elected to 'get the job done' and address Australia's key issues involving asylum seekers, the economy and health and education challenges. Yet as the Indonesian ambassdor to Australia enters his 5th month of absence from Canberra, after having being formally recalled by his government, and China and the US compete for dominance in our region, we have a PM indulging in Rudd-like practices involving self-indulgent acts such as recreating Knights and Dames without any consultaion with colleagues, or the people.

This rather silly, embarrassing, and outdated decision to revert Australia back to the days of  true British tradition - and in doing so vandalize our highly respected Australian Honours system – certainly has 'surprised' many people from our entire community, and confirmed in the minds of our northern neighbours exactly where we do belong, and where our key relations remain.

 

Ross B. Taylor AM, is the President of the Perth-based Indonesia Institute (Inc).