Australian of the Year Awards 2024: See full list of recipients

Bill Henson, whose works of a naked teen sparked national outrage, is among this year’s Australia Day Honours recipients. See who else gets a gong.

A photographer whose work includes naked portraits of adolescents, the head of the at times criticised Bureau of Meteorology and a glut of former politicians are among the controversial inclusions in this year’s Australia Day Honours List.

A total of 1042 Australians have been named in the list, with women making up just over half the recipients.

But controversial appointments could trigger debate once again about who gets recognised, and what for.

Photographer Bill Henson’s appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) – one of the more senior honours – will likely stir memories of the 2008 police raid on his exhibition in Sydney’s Roslyn Oxley Gallery, after complaints that the works included images of a naked 13-year-old girl.

Photographer Bill Henson at his home in Melbourne. Picture: Aaron Francis / The Australian

Mr Henson was not prosecuted, and the photograph of the young girl was subsequently given a PG rating. But the images were also labelled “absolutely revolting” by then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and “child pornography” by prominent child sexual abuse campaigner Hetty Johnson.

Asked about the 2008 controversy, Mr Henson said: “People are probably nearly as bored as I am with that one. I don’t really have more to say about it. I can see people rolling their eyes and saying ‘Not this again’.”

Boxed artworks by Bill Henson carried out of Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery Paddington and loaded into a truck by police in Sydney in 2008. Picture: AAP

Henson during his controversial exhibition at the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery in 2008.

Mr Henson has continued to exhibit, publish and sell his landscapes and portraits since 2008, to international acclaim.

“(The controversy) just reinforced existing thoughts that I had. Nothing changed for me and … I’ve continued to exhibit, same subject matter,” he said.

Mr Henson said his Australia Day honour was “very reassuring and gratifying” as it “reflects the value society puts on the arts and particularly the visual arts”.

The outspoken former federal Liberal MP Wilson “Ironbar” Tuckey was also unperturbed about any controversy surrounding his Australia Day honour, the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).

Mr Tuckey served in federal parliament for 30 years, where he earned a reputation for making sometimes controversial statements on matters including HIV/AIDS, Aboriginal traditions and environmental issues. His critics also repeatedly referenced his 1967 conviction for an assault on an Aboriginal patron of a pub where he (Mr Tuckey) worked. This week Mr Tuckey defended himself over that incident, saying his actions were not motivated by race, but self-defence.

Wilson Tuckey served in federal parliament for 30 years.

As a federal MP, Mr Tuckey was once described as a “heckler from hell,” and was renowned for his parliamentary spats with political opponents.

“I had an opinion on most things and I continue with that activity today on LinkedIn and Facebook. But at 88 years old that’s mainly to keep my brain working,” he said, adding: “I don’t have opinions I can’t defend with facts.”

Mr Tuckey said much of the public service he was being recognised for was unpaid work, including 16 years in local government, and nine years with the Western Australian Turf Club.

“I don’t think there should be a ban on politicians [being honoured] but in my instance it’s only one of the items that was listed in my CV,” he said.

This year’s list includes a large number of ex-politicians. From federal parliament, Mr Tuckey’s coalition colleagues Sharman Stone and John Williams were both made Members of the Order of Australia (AM). In addition, former Tasmanian premier Robin Gray was appointed an Officer (AO), and four former state MPs.

Among the winners was the head of the Bureau of Meteorology, Dr Andrew Johnson, who received the Public Service Medal.

Dr Johnson was honoured for “leadership in developing and stewarding Australia’s capability in the environmental and physical sciences”, with the citation noting his “high-calibre leadership capabilities” and “operational excellence”.

“Dr Johnson has … [built] an agency that is trusted nationally and respected globally,” the citation stated.

Former politician Sharman Stone.

BOM CEO Andrew Johnson. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

The award comes after several years of negative headlines for the Bureau. In 2022 the organisation was accused of having a “toxic work culture” while recent warnings of El Nino events have been criticised for inciting alarm among livestock farmers.

Dr Johnson did not respond to requests for comment this week.

A spokesman said the Council of the Order of Australia did not comment on individual nominations.

“Speaking generally, the Council considers the full breadth of a nominee’s service and contributions,” he said.

But the overwhelming majority of recipients will not prove controversial.

Burns specialist Professor Fiona Wood, who was Australian of the Year in 2005, was appointed an AO, as was mental health campaigner Professor Ian Hickie, and Victoria’s former Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton.