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One of Australia’s most respected journalists and former
7.30 and
Four Corners host
Kerry O’Brien has turned down his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) because because of former tennis champ
Margaret Court‘s relentless homophobia and transphobia.
O’Brien declined the offer in a letter to Governor-General’s secretary
Malcolm Turnbull has said there is “no shortage of irony” that he has received Australia’s highest honour for his contributions towards marriage equality on the same day that Margaret Court, the tennis legend who was a vocal opponent of the 2017 campaign, received the same honour. The former prime minister is one of four people made a companion of the Order of Australia (AC) as part of the 2021 Australia Day honours, on a list that includes.
Veteran journalist Kerry O’Brien has rejected an Australia Day award to protest the decision to give Margaret Court the country’s highest honour. O’Brien wrote to the governor general’s secretary on Sunday explaining there must be something “fundamentally wrong” with the honours system given the “deeply insensitive and divisive decision” to appoint Court a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). He cited Court’s “hurtful and divisive.
O Brien, a legendary ABC reporter with more than 50 years experience, was to be appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia - the second highest honour. But he has now turned it down.
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Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull, Citi Australia chairman Sam Mostyn and public relations supremo Sue Cato have been recognised in the Australia Day honours.
Former Seven Network chief executive Maureen Kerridge (nee Plavsic), who died in December, was honoured, along with Australian Food and Grocery Council chief executive Tanya Barden, Kingsgate Consolidated chairman Ross Smyth-Kirk, and merchant banker Ken Allen.
In keeping with tradition for former prime ministers, Malcolm Turnbull was recognised for eminent service to the people and Parliament of Australia.Â
James Brickwood
Eclipx chairman and long-time banker Kerry Roxburgh and developer and MAB Corporation founder Michael Buxton were made members in the general division.