2015 Australian of the Year contenders.

[Morrigu]

I agree Jo she has indeed but I still sort of feel uncomfortable with the Australian of the Year title - as she herself said prior to the award being announced. My hesitation is that she wasn't a voice or an advocate prior to the tragic loss of her son despite years of DV which is fine - but many have been and have suffered loss and maybe just maybe they should be acknowledged. It just sort of reeks of a " political agenda" award - much like Goodes last year when the focus was racism - just all a bit " convenient" for me.

FWIW I don't think people who are paid to do a job - doctors, scientists et al should be eligible - they are doing a job they usually love and may do good things etc but this is their profession they are paid and there are professional recognitions for such work.

For me CFA, SES, Lifeline Volunteers, Kids helpline volunteers and the like are the people who should be nominated and rewarded - IF - we must have such an award.

[Wokko]

Cut the hyperbole, disagreeing with her appointment isn't 'hate' nor is it 'ill-informed'. Vociferously denigrating her (like I saw a few do on facebook) may deserve that reply but apart from some quiet criticism from DtM, I haven't seen anything close to that here.

I would suggest Phil Cleary just off the top of my head has done far more, harder and more valuable work in this field. Being highly visible and a media sacred cow shouldn't make someone Australian of the Year.

Don't know why I even care though, the Queens Birthday Honors are the real awards anyway, this is just government sponsored rubbish. Surprised you're not up in Tone's grille about it Tannin, it's transparent propganda.

[ronrat]

It is a shame they can't look hard enough and find say a retired farmer who has spent 60 years in the local CFA holding all positions who even in his 80s goes down every day to prep the appliance while his wife has spent the last 60 years making morning teas for the CFA volunteers and give it to them both. Or anyone similar. The award is a joke as it is. Dave the man makes some interesting observations. I am also surprised they didn't give it posthumously to Phillip Hughes. Fiona Wood is hard done by being put in the same company as some of the other winners.

[ronrat]

And Angus Houston gets a Knighthood for amongst other things looking for plane they never found. The people who found the graves at pheasant Wood and those that discovered the resting place of HMAS Sydney 11 are still waiting for some recognition.

[David]

Before you complain too much about Batty's award, get a load of this:

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/26/prince-philip-angus-houston-named-australian-knights?CMP=soc_567

Belongs in the "Things that make you go WTF" thread, really, but this is on a whole new level. Abbott's literally gone mad with power!

Let's get this straight:

1) An honour intended for Australians has gone to a member of another country's royal family who has set foot in the country, like, twice.

And

2) The sole contribution of this man to the country over 60-odd years has been to, what, cut a few ribbons?

Tony. Has. Lost. The. Plot.

[David]

This is more or less what Abbott is doing:

http://youtu.be/Lc0bTRsQfDY

[1061]

[Dave The Man]

[Mugwump]

It is surprising that someone who came to power largely because he could pick the simplistic politics out of a complex issue and make it ring, shoudl prove so politically tone-deaf (pun intended) once he got there.

[partypie]

[Culprit]

Australians of the Year have been lost in Big Ears ideology. Rose Batty's message has been lost. What a disgrace. In saying that Goodes is out of the picture.

[David]

More on Sir Prince Philip:

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/jan/26/tony-abbott-admits-colleagues-not-consulted-on-prince-philip-knighthood

I love the reaction of the (Country Liberal) leader of the NT: "makes us look like a bunch of tossers". But what's really funny is David Flint's justification at the end:

[watt price tully]

Is the ALP paying the Mad Monk? - they must be. I'd be checking his bank account details.

He keeps on giving & may he continue. Please don't change a thing Tones. Keep at it

[partypie]

[Wokko]