John Howard OM - ACM calls for return of knighthoods

On New Year's Day, 2012, The Queen has been pleased to appoint former Australian Prime Minister, John Howard and British artist David Hockney, to be members of the Order of Merit.

The Order of Merit, founded by 1902 by King Edward VII, is a special mark of honour conferred by the Sovereign on individuals of exceptional distinction in the arts, learning, sciences and other areas such as public service.

Appointments to the Order are in the Sovereign's personal gift and ministerial advice is not required. The Order is restricted to 24 members as well as additional foreign recipients. It is in the personal gift of The Queen as Sovereign of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the UK and twelve other countries.

John Howard served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2007, and was Australia's second longest serving Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies.A number of Australians have been members of the Order of Merit: Samuel Alexander, Gilbert Murray, Sir Macfarlane Burnett, Sir Owen Dixon, Lord Florey, Sir Sidney Nolan, Dame Joan Sutherland and Lord May of Oxford.

In interviews with the media including Channel 7, ACM's Professor David Flint congratulated Mr. Howard insisting that his support for the monarchy was probably not the reason for the award. Rather it probably followed his outstanding achievements as one of the nation's leading former prime ministers and one who had attained so much, including the liberation of another country, East Timor. It was his fairness and decency in relation to the republic referendum which would have been noticed , rather restricted campaigning towards the end. Remember he said, the Queen observe the strictest neutrality in relation to the referendum.

In addition it would have been noticed that when he was in opposition he supported policies in which he believed notwithstanding the fact that they were proposed by the government. In response to a question, Professor Flint suggested suggested a return of knighthoods, as in New Zealand..

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• John Howard
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• Knighthoods