Order of Australia

The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service". The Order was established on February 14, 1975, when Queen Elizabeth II, acting in her capacity of Queen of Australia, signed Letters Patent instituting the Order. Before this date, Australian citizens received British honours. On May 24 1976 in London the Queen signed Letters Patent, countersigned by then Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, with a schedule making provision for a further category of membership as Knight or Dame and for a Medal of the Order of Australia. Knights and Dames of the Order were to be entitled to the prefix "Sir" or "Dame", and the post-nominal initials AK or AD. The award of AK and AD was discontinued in the late 1980s by agreement of the Australian Labor Party Government and the Liberal-National Party coalition Opposition. On March 3, 1986 in Canberra the Queen signed Letters Patent, countersigned by then Prime Minister Robert Hawke, with a schedule revoking the category of Knight or Dame.

Descriptions and post-nominal entitlement

The Order formerly consisted of four grades and a medal, in both general and military divisions:

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• Knight / Dame of the Order of Australia (AK / AD) — general division only; no longer awarded.
• Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) — for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia or to humanity at large.
• Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) — for distinguished service of a high degree to Australia or to humanity at large.
• Member of the Order of Australia (AM) — for service in a particular locality or field of activity or to a particular group.
• Order of Australia Medal (OAM) — for service worthy of particular recognition

The Queen is the Sovereign of the Order. The Governor-General of Australia is the Chancellor and Principal Companion of the Order. Any person may nominate any Australian citizen for an award; the nominations are reviewed by the Order of Australia Council, independent of any political interference, and then approved by the Governor-General. There are no posthumous awards in the Order. The Order is awarded twice annually: on Australia Day, and on the Queen's Birthday public holiday in June.

Related Topics:
Sovereign - Governor-General of Australia - Chancellor - Australia Day - Queen's Birthday

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