Letter
Honour for Morrison, dishonour for Australia
The awarding of Australia’s highest honour to Scott Morrison is indeed an affront to decency. It utterly debases our entire awards system. Most of us, I imagine, fume in impotent rage and move on.
But what can we say to those who were harmed — if not destroyed — by Robodebt? How can it be that their nation has no difficulty in honouring one of the chief architects of that vicious, illegal scheme, yet finds it impossible to bring its perpetrators to justice? It is one more kick in the guts from a nation which has repeatedly failed in its duty of care to its most vulnerable.
Perhaps we need a new category in the Order of Australia: the AW: “Wrecker of the Order of Australia”, awarded to those whom protocol dictates that we cannot refuse, but who have shown exemplary diligence in public office in destroying the fabric of the nation.
— Richard Barnes from Melbourne