Prime Minister Turnbull Abandons Tony Abbott's 'Knights And Dames'

Australian Knights and Dames: no longer a thing!

Was it all just a dream?

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has hit CTRL-Z on his predecessor’s decision to reintroduce Knights and Dames to the Order of Australia.

"The cabinet recently considered the Order of Australia, in this its 40th year, and agreed that Knights and Dames are not appropriate in our modern honours system," his statement read.

"The Cabinet resolved to recommend to Her Majesty that she amend the Letters Patent, which establish the Order of Australia, so that Knights and Dames would no longer be appointed to the Order."

Earlier this year, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott (remember him?) offered an Australia Day Knighthood to Prince Philip, a move so unpopular it almost cost him his job. (Not that he held on to it much longer afterwards.)

Four Australians received the honours following their reintroduction by then-PM Abbott in 2014. They include Sir Peter Cosgrove, Dame Quentin Bryce, Sir Angus Houston and Dame Marie Bashir (who totally deserves the honour and many more). PM Turnbull insists they’ll be able to hold onto their titles, despite the policy turn-around.

Any other Australian hoping to one day be named a Knight or Dame will, sadly, have to abandon their fantasy. That is, unless they want to sign this petition to “Bring Back Tony Abbott”, addressed, somewhat awkwardly, to the Governor-General of Australia, the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove.