Trevor Evans (Brisbane, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Order of Australia Award is an opportunity for us to pause and reflect on some of the people who make our country so great. Over 30,000 people have received awards since 1975 and no doubt most of them would have performed their community endeavours without seeking this recognition or any celebration of their efforts. But when the times seem so focused on the challenges and the many issues around the world, I think it really is important that the rest of Australia knows more about their extraordinary contributions. I would like to take this opportunity to highlight some examples of some of the recipients who live and work in my electorate of Brisbane.

Professor Jennifer Martin is director of Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery. She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for her services to scientific research in the fields of biochemistry and protein crystallography, and for advocating for gender equality in science. Only 35 companions are named every year so this is a particularly significant award for Professor Martin. Can I just mention how commendable it is to see such a focus in this year's honours lists on the achievements of our experts in fields like science and medicine, where so much good work is being done around Brisbane and around Australia.

Following on in those scientific and medical fields, Emeritus Professor John Grant-Thompson was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his work in biomedical engineering, education as both an academic and research, and medical equipment design. Another to be made a Member of the Order of Australia as well as receiving the Australian Public Service Medal is Mr Greg Hallem. Greg is the CEO of the Local Government Association of Queensland. He assisted with founding a number of organisations including Local Government Infrastructure Services, Propel Partnerships, Local Government Mutual, Local Government Workcare and Local Buy. He was the recipient of the John Shaw Medal—Roads Australia—in 2012, the National Emergency Medal in 2012 and the Olympic Council Merit Award in 2015. Naturally, Craig received his award for such significant services to local government administration, natural disaster recovery efforts and people with disabilities.

Associate Professor Anthony Avsec received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his tremendous work in the building and construction industry and to education. Professor Avsec is an adjunct associate professor with the science and engineering faculty at QUT. He was a national counsellor for the Australian Institute of Building and he holds a number of important positions with the National Association of Women in Construction. Also receiving a Medal of the Order of Australia was Dr Raymond Chaseling, the service director of neurosurgery and consultant paediatric neurosurgeon at the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital, for his service to medicine, particularly in the field of paediatrics. Mr Peter Cummiskey, CEO of QSport since 1997, received a Medal of the Order of Australia for his service to sports administration and to the AFL. Dr Ian Fraser became an OAM thanks to his work in medicine, community health and the wellbeing of veterans. Dr Fraser is a GP with GO2 Health, which has been working with veterans for many years, yielding impressive outcomes for veteran support. Another doctor to receive a Medal of the Order of Australia was Dr Barry Hickey, an associate professor at the UQ School of Medicine for many years, for his service to thoracic medicine. Dr Hickey was involved in establishing Greenslopes Private Hospital's respiratory unit, which has been running for almost 40 years.

For her service to music, Mrs Andrea Messenger received a Medal of the Order of Australia. Andrea was the Founding Director of the Western Suburbs String Orchestra, which has been performing since 1989. Ms Sarah Buckler received a Public Service Medal for her outstanding work in investment, regional development and corporate governance in Queensland. Ms Filomena Morgan received a Public Service Medal for her work in coordination and governance roles in Queensland. Most notably, in 2006 Filomena led the coordination efforts in response to Cyclone Larry. Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Jenkins received the Distinguished Service Medal for his leadership in the development of officer training capability for the Afghan National Army. A special mention, last but not least, for Diana Moore, the 2017 Lord Mayor's Australia Day Senior Citizen of the Year. Diana is now recently retired. She was for years the president of the Downey Park Netball Association and has been a stalwart of Brisbane's netball and sports community for the past three decades. I, and on behalf of the people of Brisbane, add my congratulations to these very worthy recipients and to all recipients of the Australia Day honours list.

Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was a proud moment in 2004 when, with my family and my beloved father, who already had an OAM, I was made an officer of the Order of Australia. This was recognition for rural communities, rural women and agriculture. I'm absolutely delighted today to acknowledge nine of my constituents, who were recognised in the Australia Day awards in January. Warm congratulations to you, your communities and your families. We honour and acknowledge Professor David Wood, AM for services to chemical engineering and education as a researcher, mentor and academic; Jenny Ellis, OAM for services to community health as a midwife in Wodonga; Peter Stokie from Bright, OAM for services to the conservation of the Victorian malleefowl; Mr John Taylor from Myrtleford, OAM for services to the community of Myrtleford; Dr John Mitchell, who's currently living in Corryong, OAM for services to the community as a philanthropist, particularly through ANU; Colin Campbell from Rutherglen, OAM in recognition of his services to the wine industry; the Hon. Bill Baxter from Rutherglen, AM for his service to the people and parliament of Victoria; Francis Walsh from Rutherglen, OAM for her services to local government in the community of Indi; Margaret Saker, who currently lives in Benalla, OAM for her huge contribution to the community of Narooma. Congratulations and well done to all those people.

Colleagues, we could do a lot more. There are so many people in our community who are doing great work, and our whole community can benefit by recognising, acknowledging and thanking ordinary people in our community who do extraordinary work. With International Women's Day approaching on 8 March, I make a special call-out to the work of Honour A Woman—I'm an honorary ambassador of theirs—for the work they are doing to bring gender balance into these awards. Their call-out is to have fifty-fifty by 2020. Why do we need this? Because in the 2016-17 honours, in the Companion of Australia category there were six women and 20 men. In the Officer of the Order of Australia category there were 31 women and 96 men. In the medal category there were 102 women and 231 men. In the OAM category there were 128 women and 592 men. Clearly it's not because men are more deserving; it's because women are not being nominated.

What can we do about this? There are a few things the government could do. It could make sure that we've got fifty-fifty representation on the Council for the Order of Australia. We could speed up the application process. Currently it takes 18 to 24 months—two years—between when you put a nomination in and when you get the return. Many people, I know, have not quite lasted those two years. So we need to get more staff in and turn it around quicker. We really need to set gender targets for each of those levels so that those numbers I read out end today and so that we've got some sort of balance between men and women. We need a program coming out of the Governor-General's office to really promote and celebrate our awardees. I know there is much we could do in our community by having workshops and getting people together where we fill in the forms and talk about what makes for a good nominee. The Honour A Woman organisation has set up a Facebook page and they've got over 1,000 followers. I really encourage my friends from my electorate who are in the gallery today: please think about someone you could nominate. It's probably going to be your mother, your aunt, your sister, your cousin or your neighbours. It's really easy. You need to put in the form, find four referees and make a really compelling argument for why this person should be recognised.

Truly it is time for the government now to support the work of our community and for the Governor-General's office to step in and do the work that our reports have recommended. We've had two major reviews: A matter of honour in 1995 and The Australian Honours and Awards Branch Report 2012-16. They had really clear and strong recommendations of what we need to do to get better gender balance, better ethnic balance and much better diversity in these awards. Congratulations to all the people in Indi. I'm really pleased to work with you to make sure we get fifty-fifty by 2020.

Julie Owens (Parramatta, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Australia) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have seen many extraordinary people awarded the Order of Australia, and this year's Australia Day recipients are no exception. I would like to congratulate all of them, but especially those in my electorate of Parramatta.

This year Greg Whitby was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to education in the Catholic school system as a leader, administrator, advocate and teacher. I've known Greg for many years, and it seems he's been an educator forever. He spent four years at the Rosemeadow School in the late 1980s as the head of English and history before taking on a raft of high-level roles in the Catholic education sector, including as director of schools at the Catholic Education Office in Wollongong and commissioner of the New South Wales Catholic Education Commission from 2000 to 2017. He was principal of Emmaus Catholic College Kemps Creek from 1992 to 1994, a lecturer in the Graduate School of Business at Western Sydney University from 1991 to 1998 and has chaired the Catholic Education Network since 2000.

Greg's contribution to Catholic education is astonishing and it was recognised in 2017 when he was named New South Wales educator of the year. Greg's continued work in education is about best practice and early innovation. He saw how technology could bring the Catholic school system together and in 1991 began linking Catholic schools through a small, private network which now hosts 1,000 schools. Greg has been recognised with a Papal knighthood in the order of St Gregory the Great for his outstanding contribution to Catholic education. He is a fellow of the Australian College of Educators, the Australian Council for Educational Leaders and the Australian Institute of Management. He was named the most innovative educator in Australia by The Bulletin in its annual Smart 100 awards in 2017. In the same year he was awarded the Sir Harold Wyndham Medal for his contribution to the education of young people in New South Wales. Greg is just one of the many deserving Order of Australia recipients who live and work in and around the Parramatta electorate, but the Catholic education system in our area would not be the same without him.

I'd like to congratulate Kevin Joseph Coorey of Telopea for service to the community through a range of roles, including as a member of St Vincent de Paul Society from 1951 to 2017 and a volunteer driver. He was a recipient of the diocesan medal in 2014 and has been a member of the St Oliver Plunkett parish since 1951.

Congratulations to Elizabeth Margaret Fleming of Carlingford. Elizabeth was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the community through social welfare organisations, including as the coordinator of Wayside Chapel Crisis Centre from 2000 to 2008, where she was also a volunteer for five years. She was also a volunteer at the Emu Plains Corrective Service Centre, in the Mother's and Children's Unit, since 2000, has volunteered with Streethearts since 2008 and has been a committee member for the Friends and Families of Missing Persons for years. What a great contribution, Elizabeth.

Dr Friedbert Kohler of Carlingford was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for his services to rehabilitation medicine. Dr Kohler was a key figure in the planning and construction of the Braeside Hospital, Prairiewood, in the early nineties before it opened in 1996 and is now the director of medical services, providing services in rehabilitation, palliative care and older persons' mental health. He has served as the director of rehabilitation medicine at Braeside, Liverpool and Fairfield Hospitals since 2004 and is a member of the Australian Society for Geriatric Medicine and the Stroke Society of Australasia. Dr Kohler is also the president of the International Society for Prosthetics and Orthotics.

Kenneth William Bock of Carlingford was awarded for his service to his community. Kenneth has been involved in the New South Wales Branch of the Australia-Britain Society as the treasurer since 2006 and as the president from 2010 to 2014. He is a life member and honorary auditor for the Friends of St George's and Descendants of the Knights of the Garter, Freemasons United Grand Lodge of New South Wales and the ACT, and he has been a member of the Eastwood Masonic Centre since 1962, holding a number of roles. Kenneth has also volunteered as an announcer and presenter for Radio 2RPH for over 20 years, and has been a diocesan reader with the Anglican Diocese of Sydney for over 40 years, as well as being actively involved with the Anglican Parish of Epping.

Joseph Weiyin Chan received a Medal of the Order of Australia, in the General Division, for service to the Chinese community of Western Sydney. Joseph has been a member and vice-chairman of the West Sydney Chinese Christian Church since 1980 and chaired the board of the Church of Christ, Western Sydney, from 2002 to 2016. In addition to his work as a radiologist, he is a member of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists and works with Christian based family associations.

To all of this year's recipients, congratulations and thank you so much. Your contributions over many years are thankfully received. I thank you for your service to my community and our country.

Darren Chester (Gippsland, National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I welcome the motion before the chamber this evening. I begin by associating myself with the comments of my neighbour, the member for Indi—in particular, her references to the Honour A Woman campaign. There is no question whatsoever that, particularly in our regional communities, that we need to become more activist in our approach to nominating women for senior roles in the community, but also for awards such as the Australia Day Honours List. I was impressed by the long list of recipients in the seat of Indi. I reflect that it's perhaps something in the water or, more particularly, something in the wine in her magnificent region, in particular when she recognised my good friend, Col Campbell OAM, for services to winemaking. Col is a quite extraordinary winemaker in a fifth-generation winery, I believe. His best known product, Bobbie Burns, has been known to frequent the shelves in my own home and also in restaurants I've attended, and his fortified wines are quite extraordinary, so it's great to see Col recognised. Another good friend of mine, the Honourable Bill Baxter, received an award for service to the Victorian parliament. Bill has been a great servant in the National Party, but more importantly a great servant of his community as a minister and one of nature's true gentleman, just like Col. It's great to see both of those gentlemen recognised.

I stood today to recognise one of my own Gippslanders who received recognition in the Australia Day Honours List. Gippsland, like Indi, is very well served by volunteers. The fabric of our community is certainly stitched together by people prepared to give of their time willingly. We have hundreds, if not thousands, of people who contribute an enormous amount of time each year. They don't expect recognition for the work they do, but it is good when they do receive some. One of the recipients this year on Australia Day was the Mayor of Latrobe City, Counsellor Darrell White. He received a Medal of the Order of Australia, in the General Division. His list of achievements in local government and sport is quite extraordinary. He was a mayor prior to amalgamation in Morwell City Council, but also in the Morwell Shire Council. He's now mayor of Latrobe City. He is chair and co-founder of PowerWorks, a business information centre. He was the Gippsland Sports Academy chairman for 16 years. He's a life member of the Churchill Football Netball Club through services as president and treasurer. He was president of the Latrobe Valley Tennis Association and is a life member after 14 years of service in that role. He was also president of the Churchill Tennis Club and president of the Morewell Tennis Club. It's quite a long list of achievements by one individual. It's people like Councillor Darrell White who are joining with me in fighting for the future of the magnificent Latrobe Valley region. The Latrobe Valley has a rich and proud heritage, but it has to have a great future. It's people like Darrell in his capacity now as mayor who are determined to make sure that the Latrobe Valley can go on to bigger and better things in the future.

The federal government has contributed significantly in recent times to the Latrobe Valley through its response to the Hazelwood closure. An amount in the order of $43 million has been put aside to work with the local community to see investment in projects that will help to create jobs. Darrell, as the mayor, is responsible for keeping local government on side. I'm pleased to say there has been a strong response from Latrobe city in terms of working with us in delivering projects in the region. There is record investment in infrastructure on the way in the Latrobe Valley right now with the Princes Highway duplication project ongoing between Traralgon and Sale but also massive investment planned for the Gippsland rail line. As the former minister responsible for infrastructure and transport I was able to secure a deal with the Victorian government that will see in the order of $530 million being spent on the Gippsland rail line over the next four or five years. I'm keen to see that project rolled out in partnership with local businesses, maximising employment opportunities in our region.

What we need to see in the Latrobe Valley is all levels of government working together. I'm looking forward to seeing the delivery of the Regional Jobs and Investment Package in the coming weeks and months, and I'm looking forward also to working with my community, with people, like Councillor Darrell White, who are passionate about the future of the Latrobe Valley to promote every opportunity possible for growth in the region. The Latrobe Valley is already a great place to live, it's a great place to work and it's a great place to raise a family and to visit. But it's people like Darrell, working with the community and through local government, who are going to make sure that we achieve our full potential and make it an even better place in the future.

Emma Husar (Lindsay, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I rise to congratulate the Lindsay residents who have been recognised by the highest national awards for their exceptional service and achievement. The Australian system of honours was established 43 years ago. Prior to 1975 Australians were recognised under the British honours system, also known as the imperial awards system. We may want to defer to Tony Abbott, the member for Warringah, about his resurrection of the imperial system, but I'm quite comfortable with the way we hand these out now.

There are 57 awards in the Australian honours system, and the best known is the Order of Australia. The Order of Australia is the pre-eminent way Australians recognise the achievements and service of their fellow citizens nominated by the community. The Order of Australia has four levels, as most people would know: the companion the officer, the member and the medal. Nominations for appointments and awards in the general division are considered by the Council for the Order of Australia, which makes recommendations for appointments direct to the Governor-General. I understand that there is quite an arduous process, and it sometimes takes up to two years for all this to unfold, for someone to be nominated and actually have the award bestowed on them. The council considers whether a nominee in the Order of Australia has demonstrated achievement at a high level, made a contribution over and above what might be reasonably expected through paid employment or whose voluntary contribution to the community stands out from others who have also made a valuable contribution.

I often say that the strength of my community is the people, that we have the best people living in my electorate. I'm sorry to everybody else in here, but I'm going to claim that. I don't have a beach. I don't have the Blue Mountains National Park. But I do have the best people. The recipients of these awards in my electorate are the best of the best. In Lindsay we were honoured to recognise John Bateman, who received an OAM for service to local government and the community of Nepean. He was mayor of Penrith from September 1998 to September 2000. He established the Bateman Battersby Law Bursary, which supports students to undertake legal studies, and is the founder of Nepean Philanthropists. He gives a lot of his time volunteering for our community. Neville Barnier was awarded an OAM for service to people with a disability and to the community of Penrith, and this commendation is recognition for his volunteerism. Neville Barnier has had an extraordinary career. He has been involved in the Australian Foundation for Disability, or AFFORD, for thirty-four years and was chairman from 2014 to 2017 and has supported our local Penrith RSL and Homes for Heroes in the western region. He is an absolute shining light of what people should aspire to be. Albert Fish, OAM, was awarded for his services to veterans and their families. He lives just outside of my electorate, but we'll claim him as one of our own—a bit like we do with Kiwis, except for a couple!

Last year, Queen's Birthday OAM honours were awarded to: Elaine Wade, for service to the community of Penrith; Allen Cullen, for his service to special-needs education through Litle by Little and Kurrambee and also to trampolining, which I am told is a sport—I know nothing about it—and Shirley Gow, awarded for her service to children, as a foster carer, and to the community.

In 2016, we had other members of our community receive the Order of Australia medal: Kevin Connelly, for service to veterans; John Farragher, an amazing contributor to the football club of Penrith; David Trist for his service to the community through a range of organisations, which he often comes into my office and talks to me about; and Christopher Holden for his service to the community of Penrith. Quite often, we skip over those people who are not recognised on Australia Day. The smaller ceremonies that pass through on the Queen's Birthday in June often don't get the attention that the Australia Day Awards do.

The other award recipients I would like to speak about include Shiva Prakash, who is a general practitioner in my electorate. I know that he's been doing great service out there, because he was my GP when I was young—I know that that was a long time ago. He's been a general practitioner practising medicine in Western Sydney, and has been doing so for a number of years, and now looks after the GP network. Another recipient was Barbara Mitchell, an amazing advocate for humanitarian medical programs. The last person that I would like to mention, who was made an Officer of the Order of Australia, is Ron Mulock. He was awarded in the Queen's Birthday honours list some many, many years ago now, but I would like to pay tribute given that we are talking about these very important honours. Ron Mulock, a good Labor man, was instrumental in instigating the Penrith Lakes scheme. He fought for a proper allocation of services and resources for Western Sydney and, in particular, hospitals. We don't see them like him anymore. These people are amazing ambassadors. They are amazing contributors to our community. I thank them dearly.

Mark Coulton (Parkes, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

There being no further speakers, the debate is adjourned and the resumption of the debate will be made an order of the day for the next sitting.