Australia Day honours 2018: Former SA Democrats leader Meg Lees calls for more women in awards after honoured with AO

THE greenie former Democrats leader who got the controversial GST across the line has won an Order of Australia — and wishes more women would join her in the Australia Day honours list.

• Scientist Michelle Yvonne Simmons is Australian of the Year
• Read the full list of SA Australia Day honour recipients here
• Oz Day protest warning: If you’re going to be an idiot — stay home
• #ENGAGE4CHANGESA: More news, reports and features

THE greenie former Democrats leader who got the controversial GST across the line has been awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia — and wishes more women would join her.

Meg Lees says there should be an inquiry and dramatic changes to the Australia Day honours system to ensure as many women as men win the prestigious awards.

She will be recognised today for her work on the environment and tax reform. Each year for the past two decades, twice as many men have won the awards as women, and today’s results are no different.

Ms Lees, who negotiated with former Liberal Prime Minister John Howard to get the Goods and Services Tax through the Parliament (by demanding environmental protections) wants the honours system changed so more women have a chance.

Meg Lees says there should be an inquiry and dramatic changes to the Australia Day honours system to ensure as many women as men win the prestigious awards. AAP Image/Dean Martin

There is a specific awards section for the male-dominated military, and Ms Lees said there should be one for the female-dominated industries of health and education as well.

She also said she was “honoured” to take home the “left field” award.

“It’s nearly 30 years since I started in the Senate but it’s very unexpected and it’s an enormous honour. I just regret more women aren’t getting the opportunity to work at that level,” she told The Advertiser.

“The areas where women have been allowed to work their way to the top such as health, education, those areas are not priorities.

“As well as a military division we should have an education division and a health division that goes to people other than professors.”

The call comes as News Corp SA advocates for real change for women in our state through the #Engage4ChangeSA campaign.

Senior Labor Senator, South Australian Penny Wong, said women’s contributions should be celebrated. “If we are serious about achieving gender equality, women should be equally represented in all parts of Australian society, including Australia’s national honours,” she said.

The Office of the Governor-General has said in the past that it is “acutely aware” of the gender balance issue and the answer was more nominations of females.

Minister for Women Kelly O’Dwyer said she was “keen” to see more Australian women recognised and would encourage Australians to nominate more “incredible women”.

“I look forward to meeting with groups who have views on this issue,” she said.

Asked to highlight her achievements, Ms Lees said she was proud of the environmental protections which went through the Parliament alongside the GST.

She said the Australian Democrats — now considered defunct — worked well with Mr Howard to negotiate the package.

“He and I agreed that we would put to one side the differences ... we had to give a bit, they had to give a bit,” she said.