Australia Day Honours full list: Just rewards for women among wealth of talent

This year’s Australia Day Honours list boasts more women than ever: 48 per cent of all recipients | SEARCH THE FULL LIST

Former senator Margaret Reynolds received an AC for services to parliament and her activism in gender equality and Indigenous rights. Picture: Chris Kidd

This year’s Australia Day Honours list boasts more women than ever – 48 per cent of all recipients – with eminent scientists, medical researchers, jurists, musicians and former politicians among the standouts.

With more than 730 honours recipients in the General Division of the Order of Australia, ­including six Companions, 47 ­Officers, 177 Members and 506 Medals, this year’s list saw the highest number of female recipients since the introduction of the honours system.

Singer-songwriter Archie Roach led the list of top honours, receiving a posthumous ­Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent services to the performing arts and for his tireless work in Indigenous rights and reconciliation for more than four decades.

His death on July 30, at the age of 66, prompted an outpouring of grief across Australia, and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declared in parliament the country had lost “a brilliant talent and a powerful and prolific national truth teller”.

Among the five other AC recipients, Melbourne physicist Peter Hannaford was recognised for his groundbreaking work in experimental physics and scientist Melissa Little was honoured for her pioneering research in regenerative therapies for kidney disease and stem-cell medicine.

In law enforcement and politics, West Australian Governor Christopher Dawson’s work as the state’s police commissioner earned him a top honour, while Labor stalwart and female trailblazer Margaret Reynolds received an AC for services to parliament and her activism in gender equality and Indigenous rights.

Like last year, the 2023 honours list attempts to steer clear of the controversy that erupted in previous years, including when journalist Kerry O’Brien rejected his AO in protest at tennis great Margaret Court receiving an AC.

But the inclusion of ABC broadcaster Norman Swan – who was named among dozens of Australians for his support of Australia’s response to the pandemic – will likely raise some eyebrows, after he claimed Shane Warne and senator Kimberley Kitching died from heart attacks linked to Covid-19.

Women took out 346 of the awards – the highest percentage of female recipients since the introduction of the Australian honours system in 1975 by the Whitlam government – and surpassed men in several key categories, including business, education, arts and environment.

But in science and technology only three women were nominated compared to 14 men, in the field of medicine it was 44 women to 61 men and in law it was eight women to 15 men. No women were nominated for awards in engineering or construction.

Medical researchers, scientists and healthcare leaders featured prominently among the list of AO recipients, with astrophysicist Matthew Malcolm recognised for services to astronomy and astrophysics, and Elizabeth Kurrle honoured for research in dementia and cognitive functions.

Other AO recipients included Queensland philanthropist Scott Williams, Tasmanian conservationist Anthony Press and Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn for services to business and charitable youth organisations.

Renowned naval architect Robin Gehling was awarded an AO for services to maritime transport and safety, and Christopher Johnson received a gong for his work in urban design and planning reform.

In the arts, veteran actor David Wenham and film and television producer Bruna Papandrea were each awarded an AM.

In announcing the list of recipients, Governor-General David Hurley said the Australia Day Honours would continue to ­prioritise diversity, adding that work is under way to increase nominations for outstanding individuals from historically under-represented groups and areas of the country.

The Governor-General said all recipients from across the country had gone “above and beyond” in their contribution to Australia.

“These are the people who see us through good times and bad. They’re the first to show up and the last to leave.”

“They’re almost always humble to a fault but I urge recipients, for today, to put aside that humility – it’s important they know how much they are valued.”