Knights and Dames go in Australia

Stuff reports:

Malcolm Turnbull has dumped Tony Abbott’s widely ridiculed policy of reinstating Knights and Dames, saying the titles are “not appropriate” in modern Australia.

The new Prime Minister announced he was dumping the titles nearly seven weeks after ousting Abbott from the top job.

In a statement, Turnbull said the decision was recently taken by cabinet and approved by the Queen.

“The cabinet recently considered the Order of Australia, in this its 40th anniversary year, and agreed that Knights and Dames are not appropriate in our modern honours system,” he said.

Turnbull said the change will not affect existing Knights and Dames, meaning Prince Philip will potentially be Australia’s last Knight.

Abbott’s March 2014 decision to reinstate Knights and Dames in Australia was one of his most notorious “captain’s picks”. 

I’m a republican but I actually like titular honours. Even if we become a Republic, I don’t think that means we need to ditch titular honours.

For me calling the (2nd to) top tier of honours recipients knights and dames is no different from calling top academics professor or top researchers doctor. When people achieve a certain level, they get a title to go with it.

So I see no need for NZ to change, just because Australia has. Indeed I look forward to Sir Richard McCaw and Sir Steve Hansen.