Australia Day Honours: full list

Some of the recipients on the Australia Day Honours List have left people stunned, wondering why others do not get recognised. SEE THE FULL LIST.

Sports stars and scientists have dominated the 2022 Australia Day honours, in a list that is also notable for its record proportion of female recipients, and its complete lack of ex-federal MPs.

A total of 1040 Australians have been honoured for their achievements and contributions, with a highest-ever percentage of female honorees in the general division (47 per cent).

Notable appointees to the Order of Australia (OA) this year include mining boss Gina Rinehart, disaster recovery chief Shane Fitzsimons and former AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin, while singer Delta Goodrem, basketballer Patty Mills and swimmer Emma McKeon were appointed Members (AM).

Tennis superstar, Paralympian, broadcaster and motivational speaker Dylan Alcott was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO).

While Australians have welcomed Alcott to the Australian of the Year role with open arms, others have criticised other recipients on the list.

News Corp readers have expressed the view they think many have just been rewarded for doing their “day job”.

Some questioned why Goodrem was there, saying: “Delta?? Seriously... This country is becoming a laughing stock.”

Others raised eyebrows at Rinehart’s name on the list. One wrote: “Gina Rhinehart? What for?”

Others defended the list saying: “Well done all, national treasures the lot of you. Big fan of Gina and Delta.”

But some also questioned if we need the list anymore.

One wrote: “DO WE REALLY NEED THIS STUPID AWARDS ANYMORE???The majority are out and out politically motivated, and many just do not deserve them!!!?

The names of ex-federal pollies have appeared on every honours rollcall since the Queen’s Birthday list in 2017, making their absence this time notable in comparison.

But eyebrows might still be raised over the decision to recognise 36 athletes who won Gold Medals in the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. While elite athletes have been honoured many times before, this year marks the first time a large group of gold medallists from the same Games have been recognised on the same list.

Former Chief Scientist Dr Alan Finkel. Picture: Kym Smith

Australia’s Chief Statistician Dr David Gruen. Picture: David Geraghty

Scientists featured prominently throughout this year’s list. Six of the seven people appointed Companions of the Order of Australia (AC), the highest honour, come from the science world, with former Chief Scientist Alan Finkel perhaps the most high-profile.

Prof Finkel said he was “thrilled, delighted and humbled” by the recognition, and to be honoured among others from his profession was “testament to the importance and the strength of science across the Australian and global communities”.

The high rates of Australian Covid-19 vaccination, and the acceptance of the realities of climate change also spoke to the importance of science in our country today, Prof Finkel said.

On climate change, Prof Finkel said he was “not particularly optimistic” the world could halt global warming at two degrees, but he was encouraged by the broad acknowledgment of the scope of the problem among Australia’s leaders.

The country’s Chief Statistician Dr David Gruen, who was appointed to the Order of Australia (OA) for his work heading up the ABS, made similar comments about the importance of science in guiding government decision making. This had been especially the case during the Covid-19 pandemic, he said.

“There has been a very deliberate effort to get expert advice and act upon it. Other countries have done the same thing, but there’s no question that that’s been a feature of the Australian response,” he said.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chair Rod Sims. Picture: Jonathan Ng

While Australia takes science seriously, it also takes the law seriously, and one of its many champions, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission chair Rod Sims, has been recognised in the Honours list. Mr Sims was appointed an AO just as his decade-long stint at the helm of the ACCC nears its end. (His term expires in March.)

Mr Sims said Australia now had “probably the most effective consumer law regime in the world”, and the ACCC was “the most active enforcer of consumer law breaches anywhere”.

Increases in penalties had given the corporate watchdog real power, he said.

“When I started over 10 years ago we were pleased if we gave out a $1m penalty. Last year we had penalties of $50m against Telstra, $125m against VW and $150m against a vocational education company. The importance of that is now people take Australian consumer law really seriously,” Mr Sims said.

Former NewsCorp CEO John Hartigan. Picture: Jane Dempster

One of the key business figures honoured in this year’s list is a man close to News Corp’s heart, former CEO John Hartigan, who was appointed an AO for his service to the media, Indigenous welfare and sport.

Mr Hartigan said it felt like Australia was “finally getting to address” Indigenous disadvantage, “but it’s a snail’s pace”.

The yearly debate about the significance of Australia Day was a worthy one to have, but secondary to the more pressing issues of Indigenous health, and the “wicked” levels of incarceration faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Australians, Mr Hartigan said.

Gina Rinehart declined the opportunity to speak about her Australia Day honour.

GOODREM’S ‘HAPPY TEARS’ OVER HONOUR

Pop treasure Delta Goodrem has had a front-row seat to watch Australia’s medical rock stars perform miracles as they endeavour to unlock a cure for cancer with cell therapy.

Supporting their endeavours with her Delta Goodrem Foundation is a deeply personal mission for the Born To Try superstar after battling Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a teenager, and for her passionate behind-the-scenes work, she has been recognised in the Australia Day honours for significant service to the not-for-profit sector, and to the performing arts.

Goodrem admits she burst into “happy tears” when she got the news.

Pop star Delta Goodrem cried tears of joy after being honoured for the Delta Goodrem Foundation. Picture: Don Arnold/Getty Images)

“It was a strong intention to give back from the day I got into music because I believe in people and the power of kindness and I wanted to lift someone’s day through song,” she said.

“As fate would have it, I did go through a very personal challenge which changed that dynamic and I developed these incredible relationships with the people at St Vincents that allowed me to strive to make a difference.

“I have learnt so much about the pioneering work they are doing in cell therapy.”

Actor Deborra-lee Furness was recognised in the 2022 honours for her tireless work as an adoption advocate as well as her distinguished service to the arts.

Furness said she was proud to join her husband Hugh Jackman and her mother Fay Duncan in receiving the honour’s medal.

The founder of Adopt Change said there remained a long road ahead to make adoption more accessible for Australian families.

Deborra-lee Furness has been honoured for her tireless work as an adoption advocate. Picture: Getty

“When we started, no one in government would talk to us and there was such negativity, still the old stigma from the past around adoption,” she said.

“They talk to us now. They’re now taking on our recommendations. There have been archaic beliefs around single people adopting, around LGBTQ people adopting. We work with the Indigenous community in this space. How far is there to go? I would love to be out of a job. This is a big, big issue.”

Revered Redgum singer songwriter John Schumann has been awarded for his efforts to spotlight the mental health crisis affecting defence and police veterans.

“I’m a little bit embarrassed to be the one singled out because it’s really about the veterans in the ADF and police, who are the courageous ones,” he said.

“They trust me with their stories and then I am able to turn them into songs that people will listen to and find compelling enough to want to make a difference.”

The queen of Australian cuisine Maggie Beer has been recognised for distinguished service to the tourism and hospitality industries as a cook, restaurateur and author, and to aged welfare.

The Great Australian Bake Off host was overwhelmed by her inclusion in the honour roll, describing it as “unbelievable.”

“You never dream that anything like this will happen and so it is an absolute honour to be recognised for the work. I’m especially proud of the Foundation and the work I’ve done with Aged Care and I know there’s so much still to do in that arena and I’m delighted to be able to do as much as I can. I couldn’t be more proud today.”

Originally published as Australia Day Honours: full list