Council of the Order of Australia launches review of O’Keefe’s gong

Days after another arrest and near death overdose, complaints grow for fallen game show host Andrew O’Keefe to hand back his Order of Australia AM award.

Fallen TV game host Andrew O’Keefe’s Order of Australia AM is under review after the governor-general received complaints he should hand back the medal following his drug, violence and mental health spiral.

The Council of the Order of Australia, the body responsible for recommending and terminating appointments, is reviewing the former Channel 7 presenter’s membership of the order after a sustained public campaign to get it revoked.

Former Deal No Deal presenter and former lawyer was recognised in the 2017 Order of Australia for his television and charity work which involved chairing the anti-domestic violence organisation, White Ribbon.

Andrew O’Keefe after another court appearance. Picture: Richard Dobson

Although the Governor-general’s office would not discuss individual cases a spokesman for the Council of the Order of Australia said Sam Mostyn acts on recommendations made by the council to award or cancel awards and confirmed “complaints” had been received following O’Keefe’s domestic violence convictions.

“Any complaints made are referred to the Council for the Order of Australia who are responsible for making recommendations to the Governor,” a spokesman for the council said.

“Issues have been raised over Mr O’Keefe’s AM, therefore, in line with the process, they are under consideration.”Calls were first aired for the 53-year-old presenter to be stripped of his membership when he was charged in February 2022 with counts of intentionally choking a person without their consent, common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm after it was alleged he tried to choke a woman at his Sydney home.

Complaints over TV presenter Andrew O'Keefe are being reviewed by the Council for the Order of Australia

In a letter to the governor-general’s office, one disgruntled member of the public wrote: “The question I have persistently put to Her Excellency the Honourable Sam Mostyn AC Governor General of Australia and Commander-in-Chief is given that, according to the Constitution for the Order of Australia, an Order of Australia medal can be revoked if a recipient has been convicted of a criminal act and or if a recipient has brought the Order of Australia into disrepute, for example Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle - can you please advise if you are conducting an investigation into whether Andrew O’Keefe’s Order of Australia AM medal should be revoked?

“He’s got untold convictions to his name.

“Medals can be returned because the recipient acknowledges that they have brought the Order into disrepute and done the honourable thing.”

Talking directly to O’Keefe he said: “Hand yours in, mate. You’ve brought the order into disrepute.”

TV presenter Andrew O'Keefe is under pressure to hnd back his Order of Australia gong

NSW Upper House MP Mark Latham also urged the Federal Government in parliament to cancel his membership branding him a “public menace” and arguing he had behaved in a manner that brought the Order of Australia into disrepute.

O’Keefe, who is currently in custody, last week pleaded guilty to breaching an AVO and to possession of meth at Waverly Court.

In July he unlawfully entered Sydney home and was arrested in September when crystal meth was found stashed in his car.

He was handed a 30 month community corrections for breaching the AVO and fined for possessing a prohibited drug.

The former host was then released on bail but soon after was rushed to hospital after overdosing on drugs at a home in Vaucluse September 16.

Two days later police found crystal meth in his car when he checked in at Rose Bay Police Station as a condition of his bail.

Complaints raised over Mr O’Keefe’s AM are under consideration. Picture: Richard Dobson

He was ordered to pay a $2,000 fine and banned from driving for three months for the drug charge.

A charge of stalking and or intimidating to intend fear or physical harm relating to the July incident was scrapped as part of the plea deal.

Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge told him his life had “completely gone off the rails”.

“God help him, and it’s a shame he doesn’t have an epiphany,” Ms Milledge said.

Former lord mayor of Melbourne Robert Doyle was stripped of his Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) honour last year and resigned in 2018 after two women accused him of sexual harassment. He denied the allegations at the time.

Victoria Police closed a criminal investigation into the allegations in 2020, with no charges laid.