![]() "He was also in the Pacific Fleet and he was actually in Tokyo Bay at the time the Japanese surrendered. "He was a sailor in the convoys that protected Australian troops being taken to the Middle East in the Second World War," Professor Flint said. "When we look at Australia in the 21st century, it's about who we're going to be as a people and I just think giving out a top award to a British royal is anachronistic." Prince has 'long relationship with Australia'Įarlier the head of Australians for Constitutional Monarchy, Professor David Flint, said the knighthood was an appropriate recognition for Prince Philip's "long relationship with Australia". He said that if Labor won office it would not continue the tradition of knights or dames. "On Australia Day, we're talking about Australia, Australian identity, the Government's managed to find a British royal to give a medal to, a knighthood to." "It's a time warp where we're giving knighthoods to English royalty," Mr Shorten told Fairfax Radio. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, who yesterday called for a renewed debate on Australia becoming a republic, said giving a knighthood to an English royal on Australia Day was outside the mainstream of Australian thinking. Shorten says award for British royal 'a time warp' That's what you would expect."Īsked if Prince Philip was a "captain's pick" for the award, Mr Abbott said "I'm not going to dispute your characterisation" before calling for questions on other topics. "I'm just really pleased that in his 90s, towards the end of a life of service and duty, we in this country are able to properly acknowledge what he's done for us."Īsked how widely he had consulted before making the decision, Mr Abbott said: "As you would expect, I consulted with the Chairman of the Order of Australia, and I consulted with the Governor-General. He's the inspiration and wellspring of the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards which have provided leadership training for tens if not hundreds of thousands of Australians over the years. "Here in this country he's the patron of hundreds of organisations. ![]() "Prince Philip has been a great servant of Australia, he's been a great servant of all the countries of the Commonwealth. ![]() Mr Abbott said he stood by the decision to award the knighthood to 93-year-old Prince Philip because "the monarchy has been an important part of Australia's life since 1788". "It's often very abusive and in a sense, it has about as much authority and credibility as graffiti that happens to be put forward by means of IT." You wouldn't report what's sprayed up up on the walls of buildings and look, as I said, social media has its place, but it's anonymous," he told reporters. "I think that in the media, you make a big mistake to pay too much attention to social media. #jokeknighthood".Īnswering questions about the decision at an Australia Day event in Canberra today, Mr Abbott said he was "really pleased" the Queen had accepted his recommendations on the knighthoods and added that whilst the Duke had not called to say thank you for the honour, he did not "expect gratitude".Īnd he said social media criticism of the move was akin to "electronic graffiti" Tony Abbott runs Australia with a backdrop of kitsch 1950s nostalgia, and with the appointment of Prince Philip as Australia's newest knight it is obvious the PM has missed the mark, writes Darrin Barnett.Īnd it drew fire on social media from commentators including Canberra press gallery veteran Laurie Oakes, who tweeted: "Libs must wonder who can help a PM apparently determined to be seen as a joke. ![]() The move to award an Australian knighthood to the Queen's husband has also been criticised by republicans, with former Western Australia premier Geoff Gallop calling it a "sad reflection" on Australia. "We're not a bunch of tossers, let's get it right." He said that when he read reports of the Prince's knighthood this morning he wondered if he had woken on April Fools' Day. The private anger of Coalition MPs and ministers was given public voice by the conservative chief minister of the northern territory, Adam Giles. ![]() "Well, we've just punched through the Earth's crust."Īnother Coalition MP said the move reinforced the left-wing caricature of the Prime Minister: the appointment harked to Australia's past and the opportunity of making a positive statement about the future on the national day had been squandered. "There is an old saying that when you are in a hole you should stop digging," one minister said. Another said the Prime Minister's colleagues were willing him to succeed, but he had started the year badly and had made the job of trying to lift the Coalition's electoral credibility just that much harder. ![]()
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