The rich history of the Australian honours system

Dr Karen Fox, author of 'Honouring a Nation'. Photo: Tracey Nearmy/ANU - The first detailed history of the Australian honours system reveals key debates that have characterised the institution for decades and highlights long-standing contests about who is recognised and why. Gender balance, diversity, the use of titles, and recognition for paid versus voluntary work have attracted attention in recent years, but Dr Karen Fox, Senior Research Fellow at The Australian National University (ANU), says these debates have a long history. Dr Fox's new book,  Honouring a Nation , published by ANU Press and release today, provides a detailed history of the honours system in Australia, explaining how the system has worked, tracing the arguments of its supporters and critics, and looking both at those who received awards and those who declined them. Drawing on Dr Fox's research, the open access book explores the honours system from the extension of British honours to colonial Australasia in the 19th century, to the establishment of the Order of Australia in 1975, and recent controversies such as the reintroduction of titles by then Prime Minister Tony Abbott.