Australia drops knights and dames from honours system
Republican PM Malcolm Turnbull says titles 'not appropriate in 2015 Australia'
Australia will no longer include knights and dames titles in its honours system, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has announced.
The move comes less than a year after his predecessor, Tony Abbott, a staunch monarchist, caused a stir by awarding a knighthood to the Queen's husband, Prince Philip.
Australia introduced knighthoods and damehoods in 1976, but dropped them a decade later. Abbott then brought them back in 2014 to a great deal of criticism.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Now, Turnbull – a known republican who led the unsuccessful 1999 national referendum to abandon the monarchy – has decided to put an end to the knights and dames titles, which he says are "not appropriate in our modern honours system".
He told ABC News: "This reflects modern Australia. Knights and dames are titles that are really anachronistic, they're out of date, not appropriate in 2015 in Australia."
The change has been welcomed by the opposition, with Australia's Labour Party shadow treasurer Chris Bowen saying that the country should not be "clinging onto imperial Britain through our honours system".
Even so, he added, "we shouldn't be celebrating the fact that knights and dames are gone, we should be lamenting the fact that they came back under this government". Since its 2014 reinstatement, five people have been awarded the honour: Prince Philip, former New South Wales governor Marie Bashir, former governor-general Peter Cosgrove, former governor-general Quentin Bryce and former Defence Force chief Angus Houston.
A poll taken by the Australian National University shows that 58 per cent of Australians disapprove of the titles. At the same time, the poll also found a steady increase in approval ratings for the monarchy and the royal family. That should still be good news for the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, who will visit to Australia and New Zealand next week.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
A history of student protest at Columbia University
The Explainer Anti-Israel demonstrations at NYC's Ivy League university echo protests against Vietnam War and South African apartheid
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Trump is ruled in contempt'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Hainault sword attack: police hunt for motive
Speed Read Mental health is key line of inquiry, as detectives prepare to interview suspect
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Russia gains as Ukraine awaits US aid
Speed Read Ukrainian forces have retreated from several villages as the situation at the front line worsens
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Haiti interim council, prime minister sworn in
Speed Read Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigns amid surging gang violence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Myanmar: the Spring Revolution and the downfall of the generals
Talking Point An armed protest movement has swept across the country since the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi was overthrown in 2021
By The Week Staff Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US, Israel brace for Iran retaliatory strikes
Speed Read An Iranian attack on Israel is believed to be imminent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published