Australian honours system fit for purpose? Hardly
Normal text size
Advertisement
Critics of the Australian honours system have an easy time pointing out its various flaws. It is elitist while the national ethos is proudly egalitarian. It is top-down instead of grass-roots, and worst of all it is a self-perpetuating clique. Add in that too many people are awarded a gong for just giving away lots of money – a commendable activity but not one that is the same as giving away your time.
Australia Day honours include the Companion in the Order of Australia (AC), Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) and Member in the Order of Australia (AM).
Who influenced this process? : Readers respond to onenewspage.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from onenewspage.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Federation, reflection days can mark progress, history
We’re sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
Dismiss
January 25, 2021 12.05am
Normal text size
Advertisement
There is clearly an appetite in this country to annually renew and celebrate our national spirit while reflecting on the sins of our beginnings (“Date with destiny”, January 23-24). Moving Australia Day to January 1, the date of Federation in 1901, would allow us to mark the first steps towards independence from Great Britain without the day being overly burdened by guilt and introspection. January 26 could then be re-designated as national reflection day, an opportunity to contemplate the Indigenous experience since 1788 and to renew the national commitment to equality and inclusiveness for all who live here. A mature community should be able to acknowledge its shortcomings, both historic and contemporary.
âA moment of unityâ: Australia Day stirs debate despite COVID-19
Weâre sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later.
Dismiss
Save
Normal text size
Advertisement
The COVID-19 crisis may have curtailed some of the more flamboyant January 26 celebrations, but this yearâs Australia Day still offers an opportunity to celebrate, reflect and debate what it means to be Australian.
A number of Sydney councils have cancelled Australia Day events and the state government will not stage events on Sydney Harbour such as the ferrython, Tall Ships race and tug and yacht ballet.
But Andrew Parker, chairman of the Australia Day Council of NSW, said January 26 will still be a busy day beginning with the WugulOra morning ceremony at Barangaroo Reserve.