33. Knights and Dames

Hi. I am Greg and I want to grumble about knights and dames. Yes, it is predictable, and in the week since Lord Abbott’s non-surprise policy, there has been much derision of the re-introduction of imperial-style honours.

And rightly so. But do such things really matter?

It is a bit pathetic, slightly embarrassing, but mostly it is just funny.

But what I actually want to grumble about is who gets the titles of Sir and Dame. Any honours, whether they are Australian or British imports, are supposed to be about recognising great service to the community, but do the retiring or incoming Governor-General really qualify?

I don’t mean personally, but I thought the position of Governor-General was itself a sort of recognition of service, and a very well paid one at that at around $400,000 per year. Do we also need to knight them?

Quentin Bryce’s career before being Governor –General included being a successful barrister, a CEO, a senior government official and Governor of Queensland. All well remunerated. Similarly, the new resident of Yarralumla has been well recognised and rewarded for his high-profile military career.

Both G-Gs have contributed community service beyond their careers, but mostly their qualification for honours are their career achievements. Well, I am sorry, that is just their day job.

Lots of people make enormous contributions in their day jobs - creating the infrastructure, goods and services that we all use, and they are rewarded and recognised far less than those most likely to be knighted.

So, if we are going to have a system of honours, could we recognise people who make a contribution to our community beyond their day job?

There is no shortage of them – volunteers who keep community groups of all sorts running; those who care for relatives, neighbours and sometimes strangers; and activists who spend their lives being ostracised for trying to make the world a better a place.

All these people give up time and money to make their contribution. No wages, no social recognition, no rent-free cottages by the lake. And no knighthoods. 

Of course sometimes these community contributors (usually the safer, more conservative ones) get minor honours, but as we have seen with our be-knighted governors-general, the big honours are reserved for those who have already been recognised and rewarded.

To those that have, shall be given. It is called a class system.

I am Greg and I am grumbling.

And vale Tony Benn – a champion, but not a knight or Lord of the realm.


This Grumble can be heard online or by podcast.
First Broadcast: 1 April 2014