Government House

        CANBERRA ACT 2600

 

 

Guidelines concerning the acceptance and wearing of foreign honours and awards by Australians (approved by Her Majesty The Queen August 2012)

 

The following guidelines concerning the acceptance and wearing of foreign honours and awards (foreign awards) by Australians replace all previous guidelines.

Her Majesty The Queen has delegated authority to the Governor-General of Australia, on the advice of the Prime Minister, to amend the Guidelines from time to time.

The Australian Government reserves the right not to recommend the granting of permission for the formal acceptance of any foreign award which it judges to be contrary to Australian policy or interests.

 

1)     “Government service” means the service of the Commonwealth Government or of any State or Territory Government and includes service in any appointment remunerated by or on behalf of any such Government.

 

2)     Subject to the conditions described below, Australian citizens may accept and wear foreign awards when an offer is made by the Head of State or the Government of a country with which Australia maintains diplomatic relations; or by an official agency of the United Nations; or by other international organisations recognised diplomatically by Australia.

 

3)     Permission for the formal acceptance and wearing of foreign awards can be given by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Prime Minister or the Minister with portfolio responsibility for the Australian honours system in the form of a Schedule of approved countries and awards.

 

4)     Permission for the formal acceptance and wearing of foreign awards to Australian Defence Force personnel will, in the first instance, be subject to advice from the Minister for Defence, or his delegate, on whether or not it is appropriate for the permission to be given.

 

5)     Proposals to give Australian citizens foreign awards should be made in advance to the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat in the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General with full details of the reasons for the proposed award.

 

6)     Awards presented to Australian citizens without prior warning may be accepted to avoid giving offence. However, arrangements should be made as soon as possible for a formal approach through the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat in the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General.

 

7)     There is no objection to foreign awards presented without official permission being worn on the right breast at private functions or at special services of commemoration or at ceremonies held in connection with that country.

 

8)     Formal approval for the acceptance of foreign awards by Australians will be communicated by the Australian Honours and Awards Secretariat in the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General to the relevant foreign Government, United Nations agency or international organisations as the case may be.

 

9)     Foreign awards are to be worn in accordance with The Order of Wearing Australian Honours and Awards.

 

10) Subject to the conditions of these Guidelines, persons in government service may accept foreign awards. For persons engaged in government service, the wearing of foreign award insignia of the left breast of an official uniform or when on official duty is subject in all instances to the dress regulations and other appropriate considerations of the services concerned. Requests to wear foreign awards on official duty should be addressed to the chief officer of the relevant service.

 

11) There shall be a Registrar of Awards who shall be appointed by the
Governor-General and shall maintain a register of the names of Australian citizens who have been given formal permission to accept particular foreign awards. Persons given permission to accept and wear foreign awards prior to the establishment of these Guidelines may apply in writing to the
Governor-General for their name to be placed on the Register.

 

12) Persons awarded foreign awards prior to becoming Australian citizens do not need to seek approval to wear the insignia thereof in a private capacity.

 

13) A person in government service awarded a foreign award before becoming an Australian citizen must seek approval to wear the insignia on official duty in accordance with paragraph 10.

 

14) These Guidelines have no bearing on the right of Her Majesty The Queen of Australia, honouring Her Australian subjects with awards in Her personal Order or other honours which are wholly within Her Majesty’s own gift.

 

 

 

 

 

By Her Excellency’s Command

 

 

 

 

 

 

Official Secretary to the Governor-General