Commonwealth of Australia
It is notified for general information that Her Majesty The Queen has approved amendments to
the Constitution of the Order of Australia to reinstate appointments of Knights and Dames of
the Order of Australia, as detailed in the following Letters Patent and Schedule of amendments.
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| Original signed “Elizabeth R” ELIZABETH THE SECOND, by the Grace of God Queen of Australia and Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth:
TO ALL to whom these Presents shall come,
GREETING:
WHEREAS, by Letters Patent dated 14 February 1975, We established a society of honour known as the “Order of Australia” and made provision with respect to the membership and the Constitution of the Order;
AND WHEREAS it is desirable that certain amendments be made to the Constitution of the Order.
KNOW YOU that We do, by these Presents, declare Our pleasure that the Letters Patent dated 14 February 1975, as subsequently amended by Our Letters Patent, be further amended, but without prejudice to anything lawfully done under them, as set out in the Schedule.
IN WITNESS whereof We have caused these Our Letters to be made Patent. GIVEN under the Great Seal of Australia at Our Court at St James’s on 19 March 2014 Original signed “Tony Abbott” By Her Majesty’s Command Prime Minister |
Schedule—Amendment of the Constitution of the Order of Australia
1 Subsection1(3)
After ”as”, insert “Knight or Dame,”.
2 Subsection 2(1)
Omit “Companion”, substitute “Knight or Dame, as the case may be,”.
3 Paragraph 5(a)
After “to the Order”, insert “as Companion, Officer or Member”.
4 After heading before section 9
Insert
8A Appointments (including honorary appointments) to the Order as Knight or Dame shall be made, with the approval of the Sovereign on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, by Instrument signed by the Governor-General and sealed with the seal of the Order.
5 Section 9
After “to the Order”, insert “as Companion, Officer or Member”.
6 After section 11
Insert:
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA—KNIGHTS AND DAMES IN THE GENERAL DIVISION
11A (1) Appointments as Knights or Dames , or honorary Knights or Dames, in the General Division shall be made for extraordinary and pre-eminent achievement and merit in service to Australia or to humanity at large.
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), a distinguished person who is not an Australian citizen may be appointed as an honorary Knight or Dame in the General Division where it is desirable that the person be honoured by Australia.
11B The Governor-General may appoint to be Knights and Dames in the General Division, other than honorary Knights and Dames, not more than four persons in any calendar year.
7 After subsection 19(1)
Insert:
(1A) Subsection (1) does not apply to appointments to the Order as Knight or Dame.
