The #PrimeMinister of Australia, the Hon. #TonyAbbott MP, has unilaterally changed the Order of Australia by reinstating a top tier comprising #Dames and #Sirs. These titles, harking back to the #BritishEmpire, were previously revoked by #QueenElizabeth II at the request of the then Prime Minister, #BobHawke, in 1986. Tony Abbott has reinstated this top tier without consulting his cabinet, his party caucus, the parliament, or the Australian public. Governor General #QuentinBryce is the first #GovernorGeneral in Australias history to call for Australia to become a #republic while holding office, stating in November 2013: And where perhaps, my friends, one day, one young girl or boy may even grow up to be our nations first head of state. To state this, only to accept an ancient British honorific of Dame only 4 months later, is hypocritical. To have Australias current and future representatives of the Head of State to accept such honorific titles is an embarrassment and an undermining of Australias status as an independent, modern country, willingly and necessarily integrated with the Asia-Pacific region. If Quentin Bryce and #PeterCosgrove were to decline these titles, this would be the loudest message possible to the #LiberalNational #Government that the Australian people want to remain forward-looking, and never want to return to that time when Australians would doss their lid and tug the forelock to the British Establishment. There is a proud history of declining honorific titles in Australia, and the United Kingdom, even after initial acceptance. If Quentin Bryce and Peter Cosgrove were to reject this title, they would be in the proud company of many prominent persons in Australia. More than 150 persons have rejected an #OrderofAustralia since 2000. SIGN THE PETITION HERE: avaaz.org/en/petition/Australian_Governors_General_Quentin_Bryce_and_Peter_Cosgrove_Renounce_the_honorific_titles_of_Dame_and_Sir/?nvfiRdb
Posted on: Wed, 26 Mar 2014 07:30:38 +0000
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