Margaret Court to be recognised in Australia Day honours

Dan Andrews has savaged a decision that will see controversial tennis legend Margaret Court recognised in Australia Day honours.

Margaret Court will recieve Australia Day honours.

Premier Daniel Andrews has savaged a decision to honour Margaret Court in this year’s Australia Day honours.

Mr Andrews said Ms Court did not exhibit the values or hold the attitudes supported by the majority of Victorians.

Describing Court’s views as “hateful” Mr Andrew’s said he was “sick of talking about that person every summer”.

“Do we really have to do this every single summer? Others have saw fit to honour her, they’re not decisions I make,” he said.

The details of those being honoured on Australia Day are issued under embargo to media outlets.

Margaret Court views on same sex marriage has sparked much controversy. Picture: Mark Stewart

Daniel Andrews savaged the decsion to grant Court Australia Day honours. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Broadcaster and writer Justin Smith revealed Court’s honour on social media this morning, saying “the debate that’ll follow after the 26th will be pointless and tedious”.

“So let’s do it now,” he said.

“Court’s extreme views on same-sex and trandgender people have been well reported.

“I think they’ve been an international embarrassment and belong in a very different era.

“Australia is beyond believing other are less than equal or suffering from a form of abnormality that needs correcting.”

Smith said despite Court’s “giant achievements in tennis”, honouring her with a Companion in the General Division would “puts “humanity at large” and Australia in reverse”.

He called for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, the Governor General and the Council of the Order of Australia to reconsider the honour.