We’ve been here before. Every year on Women’s Agenda we write about the Queen’s Birthday honours list. And every year we bemoan the lack of women recognised.
If you thought something might have changed in 2016, you’d be very disappointed.
This year just three of the 13 Australians to receive the top prize – the Companion of the Order of Australia – are female: Justice Carmel McLure, Roslyn Packer and Kerry Sanderson
It’s a slight improvement from this time last year, when biological scientist Professor Judith Ann Clement was the lone woman among eight people to receive the highest honours.
Although that was slightly down from 2014, when the CSIRO’s Dr Megan Clark was the lone woman among seven ACs appointed. But at least back in 2014, men only outnumbered women in the full honours list two to one.
This year? Men outnumber women three to one on the full list of 771, according to Fairfax reports today. In the business category, the ratio in favour of men is as high as eleven to one.
The problem’s not the judges, according to the judges. As Chair of the Council for the Order of Australia Sir Angus Houston told the Sydney Morning Herald: “The Council is only able to make recommendations based on the nominations it receives … this is in the hands of Australians who decide to nominate.”
The problem is that women simply aren’t being nominated.
So if only one gender’s getting nominated for such a nationally recognized awards system, is there something wrong with the nominations process?
We certainly think so.
Women to receive the Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia include:
The Honourable Justice Carmel Joy McLURE,
Supreme Court of Western Australia
For eminent service to the law and to the judiciary in Western Australia, to legal administration and professional development, and to the community through contributions to tertiary education and arts organisations.
Mrs Roslyn Redman PACKER AO
For eminent service to the community as a leading benefactor and patron, particularly to health care, medical research and social welfare groups, and to the visual and performing arts through philanthropic contributions.
Her Excellency the Honourable Kerry Gaye SANDERSON AO
For eminent service to the people of Western Australia, to the promotion of international investment, scientific research and export opportunities, and through roles with maritime, mining, emergency management and not-for-profit organisations.