Opinion: Good riddance Grace Tame, your grandstanding is finally over

Grace Tame, who behaved like a spoiled brat for much of her Australian of the Year tenure, will not be missed, writes Kylie Lang. VOTE IN OUR POLL

If there’s one thing we can be grateful for as 2022 kicks into gear, it’s the fresh face of a new Australian of the Year.

Grace Tame, who behaved like a spoiled brat for much of her tenure, will not be missed.

Her demonstrable disdain for the Prime Minister and his high office did her cause no favours. Important messages around sexual assault prevention and people’s right to be safe were dulled by her off-putting petulance.

When Ms Tame death-stared Scott Morrison and his wife Jenny at the Australian of the Year morning tea in Canberra this week, after grudgingly shaking their hands, it was all the proof anyone needed that her appointment was a mistake.

I’m not saying the 27-year-old Tasmanian needs to agree with everything Mr Morrison does but she should at least have the courtesy to respect the office he holds.

There is a time and place to voice concerns but too often both eluded Ms Tame as she sought to use the Australian of the Year honour to push her anti-Coalition agenda.

“A DisGrace”, as one Courier-Mail reader noted.

The limp justification for her rudeness this week was that she was making a political statement. Yeah, we know.

The incoming Dylan Alcott, by refreshing contrast, appears to understand the meaning of the title.

The 31-year-old Paralympian might only be four years Ms Tame’s senior but his acceptance speech indicated a far greater level of maturity.

It showed a humility that belies his remarkable achievements in both the sporting and disability awareness spheres, and an ability to bring other Australians along with him instead of alienating them through arrogance.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison congratulates 2022 Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott at the awards ceremony in Canberra, Australia. Picture: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

“Winning grand slams and gold medals isn’t my purpose,” he said.

“My purpose is changing perceptions so people like me can get out there and live the lives they deserve to live. It was my purpose yesterday, today and my purpose as your Australian of the Year for the next 12 months and beyond, and I really hope I make every single one of you proud.”

Mr Alcott, the first person with a visible disability in the award program’s 62 years, also acknowledged others working hard to make this country greater.

“I feel honestly ridiculous being here,” he said.

“To our frontline workers, our nurses, our doctors, people running our vaccines, ambulances, firefighters, you deserve this much more than a guy who hits tennis balls and loves talking.”

This is what the Australian of the Year role should be about: respectfully driving positive change; helping people band together, not creating further division.

It should never be about grandstanding.

It should always be about we, not me.

Mr Morrison, who remained courteous and professional despite Ms Tame’s latest tantrum, was right when he said the awards symbolised what makes our country tick.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison with Grace Tame this week. Picture: Gary Ramage/NCA NewsWire

“You see, the strength of Australia, the wonder of Australia, is ultimately the Australian people,” he said.

“A generous, open-hearted, practical people who look out for each other, care for each other, care for their community and their country, and simply get on with it.”

Early indications would suggest the selectors have redeemed themselves by appointing Dylan Alcott.

The Victorian has committed to using the role to effect change while not letting it change him.

“The biggest achievement for me is just being a happy bloke with a great life,” he told The Australian.

“What’s an award really worth? I don’t buy into it all that much. I used to. I used to want this stuff to make myself feel worthy of able-bodied people.

“I had to win everything to prove, look at us, look at disabled people, we can do it. I’m not like that anymore. I’m just me. Awards like this shouldn’t and won’t change you. And it won’t.”

I’m predicting his will be a voice we will all want to hear.

Kylie Lang is associate editor of The Courier-Mail

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