Republicans happy to accept Queen’s awards

A slew of prominent supporters of an Australian republic have accepted Queen’s birthday honours.

Kevin Rudd has become a Companion of the Order of Australia.

A slew of prominent supporters of an Australian republic have ­accepted Queen’s birthday honours this year.

Former prime minister Kevin Rudd is one such recipient, justifying why he finally saw fit to ­accept a Queen’s birthday honour this year despite his vocal support for a republic and a history of refusing the accolade.

In doing so, he joined author and journalist Jane Caro, former leader of the Australian Democrats Natasha Stott Despoja, actor Hugh Jackman and other republicans who accepted honours from the Queen.

Caro said she was delighted to be appointed a Member of the Order of Australia, especially under the current wording — a change made by Gough Whitlam away from the British order titles. “I don’t feel hypocritical, it doesn’t bother me in the least,” she said.

She believed her advocacy for certain issues, including the republican cause, was one of the reasons she had been nominated for “significant service to the broadcast media as a journalist, social commentator and author”.

Hugh Jackman has become a Companion of the Order of Australia.

Caro, who has written works of fiction about Elizabeth I, said “royalty for the British or the Danes makes sense to me” but the British monarchy was “not appropriate for Australia”.

She has previously said it is "about time we cut the apron strings from mama England", and stirred controversy when she tweeted that she wished she was a New Zealander on the night of the May Federal election.

“Well, Australia may be f**ked,” she tweeted, later apologising for the comments.

Mr Rudd, who like Jackman was one of 12 Australians appointed the top gong of Companion of the Order of Australia, is known to have ­previously declined a Queen’s birthday honour but he ­accepted this year because he felt he had made a “wider contribution ­beyond political life”.

Natasha Stott Despoja has become an Officer of the Order of Australia.

A spokesman for the office of the Governor-General said that, while a recipient notified of their honour could request that it be cancelled, “no more than a handful” declined each year.

Mr Rudd did not respond to The Australian’s question regarding his republican views, but dedicated his honour to “our indig­enous brothers and sisters” and the campaign towards constitutional recognition.

Queen’s Birthday honours

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Ms Stott Despoja was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, and has previously recon­ciled her admiration of the royal family with her support for a ­republic, saying: “I believe we can respect and let those Australians who care about the royal family celebrate their happy moment while acknowledging that Australians deserve an Australian head of state.”

Jane Caro has become a Member of the Order of Australia.

There were 993 Australians who received Queen’s birthday honours this year. Journalist Leigh Sales became a Member of the Order of Australia, but threw cold water on hype around the awards, saying: “I don’t think journalists need honours, as nice as they are.”