Who will be the Australian’s Australian of the Year for 2023?
Australians have faced a year of significant challenges – a divisive referendum campaign, runaway inflation and rising interest rates, bushfires and floods – and yet heroes have emerged. Help decide the Australian of 2023.
Australians have faced a year of significant challenges – a divisive referendum campaign, runaway inflation and rising interest rates, bushfires and floods – and yet heroes have emerged and the nation endured.
The Australian is inviting its readers to nominate those among us who have made a difference, triumphed against the odds, helped others or led by their actions in 2023.
From these nominees, the paper will announce its Australian of the Year on January 20, an annual tradition since 1971, when the title was awarded to economist HC “Nugget” Coombs.
The Australian’s 2022 Australian of the Year was Kirsty Wright, who risked her career, reputation and financial security to help uncover glaring failures at a Queensland government forensics laboratory.
For 2023, the successful nominee could be another whistleblower, politician, sportsperson, community activist or advocate.
In public life, there are key figures across the political divide who have had an impact, stood up for their beliefs or helped shape the nation this year.
On both sides of the voice to parliament referendum debate, individuals rose to prominence, took a stand and argued their case to help Australians in making a call on whether to change our Constitution.
Indigenous leaders on both sides – typified by Noel Pearson for the Yes camp and Warren Mundine for the No – campaigned tirelessly for their competing beliefs in the merits of the question.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, in April appointed as opposition spokeswoman for Indigenous Australians, quickly became a leader of the No campaign, playing a pivotal role.
Another Coalition colleague who stepped up for the Yes camp, defying the party line and risking personal political damage was Julian Leeser. The Liberal MP stood down from the opposition frontbench to advocate for a Yes vote.
Labor, too, has had its luminaries. In NSW, Chris Minns led the party out of the political wilderness after 12 years, while federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers delivered the first surplus in 15 years.
Outside public life, heroes emerged from every field of human endeavour.
Journalist Cheng Lei was released from prison in China, turning the spotlight on press freedom and the need to coexist with our largest trading partner, while defending Australian values and the rights of Australians targeted by foreign governments.
Holocaust survivors in Australia came together to tackle anti-Semitism, on the rise as a result of the horrific conflict between Hamas and Israel sparked by the October 7 attacks.
Courageous survivors of child abuse perpetrated by Malka Leifer, meanwhile, were vindicated in their struggle for justice, with the former school principal found guilty after a six-week trial in the County Court of Victoria and sentenced in August to 15 years imprisonment.
In policing and science, significant gains were made. Quantum physicist professor Michelle Simmons was awarded the prime minister’s top prize for science for discoveries that have shaped new approaches to quantum computing.
Members of the Australian Federal Police were able to remove 13 Australian children from danger in August, through Operation Bakis, with 19 men charged with child abuse offences.
At the grassroots level, ordinary Australians have gone beyond the call of duty to represent their communities and make a difference. These local heroes are perhaps exemplified by Gavin Morris, principal of Yipirinya, an independent school for children from the town camps of Alice Springs, in his advocacy for neglected, troubled youth.
Sporting stars have also shone at home and overseas, ensuring the nation continues to punch above its weight with bat and various balls.
A strong candidate for many will be the Australian cricket team which in 2023 retained the Ashes in England and led Australia to one-day World Cup triumph in India.
Led by 30-year fast bowler Pat Cummins, who shared The Australian’s 2021 award with tennis star Ash Barty and Olympic swimmer Emma McKeon, Australia also completed a series victory over Pakistan on Friday, winning the second Test in the three-match series.
Matildas captain Sam Kerr must also be front of mind for many Australians, leading a women’s soccer team whose performance in the Women’s World Cup stole the hearts of millions and elevated the female game to unprecedented heights.
A case could be made, in fact, for nominating the entire squads overseen by both Cummins and Kerr for their stellar performances in 2023 and the verve brought to their sports.
Faces old and new from the world of Australian entertainment also enjoyed big years, globally.
Brisbane boy Jacob Elordi emerged as a respected actor and one of Hollywood’s biggest heart-throbs, while Margot Robbie’s Barbie became a global phenomenon.
In music, Kylie Minogue, Australia’s Princess of Pop, staged a remarkable comeback, while Perth’s Troye Sivan became a prince of the dancefloor, as well as Saturday Night Live.
We encourage our readers to put in a nomination for The Australian’s Australian of the Year, which was first won in 1971 by economist HC “Nugget” Coombs. Prominent Australians can be nominated by filling out the form above, or sending an email to aaoty@theaustralian.com.au. Nominations close on Friday, January 19.
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