Arise, Sir Peter. Take a hike, Dame Quentin.
Decorated military man Peter Cosgrove (pictured) was sworn in as Australia’s 26th governor-general this morning, assuming the highest office in the land (well, technically) and a fancy new title — Australia’s newest knight. Quentin Bryce, of course, walks away from Yarralumla with her own honour: a damehood of the British Empire.
Cosgrove vowed today he comes to the role “agenda free”. As is appropriate. Bryce, too, served with apolitical dignity.
But both appear to be avowed republicans. Bryce made that known explicitly in her final months in the job; Cosgrove’s public position is a little more nuanced, but it seems clear which way he leans.
Which might make you wonder why they took the job in the first place. It might. It certainly makes you wonder why they’d accept their silly new honourifics.
The job demands they not make a political fuss. But on knights and dames, at least, the answer could have been private and simple.
Thanks, but no thanks.
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I suspect that both Cosgrove & Bryce were ambushed by Abbott with the honourifics. (As were most of his cabinet.)
Blaming them for being wedged by Abbott’s actions seems a little churlish.
I agree that these awards are silly and anachronistic, but by way of clarification, Quentin did not receive a damehood of the order of the british empire, it’s a damhood of the order of Australia.
Not at all Paddy. They could have politely and privately declined when first asked. Recipients are always given an option to decline an honour before it is awarded or even announced publicly just in case they do want to decline. It saves embarrassment all round.
Now, if Tony Abbott had announced it publicly first that would be a different thing entirely and Cosgrove and Bryce could say that they had been ambushed.
Not sure that the protocol of the recipients always being asked first, was applied in the current situation Matt. These are the first recipients of Tony’s new honours and Cosgrove had already been announced as the new GG before Tony sprung his “surprise”.
Bryce was the current GG and it would have been a major breach of protocol for her to publicly refuse.
(Just look at the fuss at her one reference to an Oz born head of state caused.)
I think Tony wedged them both and enjoyed the power of doing so.
By accepting this sycophantic nonsense they have both demeaned themselves and their achievements. THIS is now what they’ll be remembered for.