The French Government has bestowed the prestigious Order of Arts and Letters to Arts Minister Peter Garrett overnight in Paris.
This is a great honour for the Minister that recognises his significant contribution to arts and culture through music, and as Minister for the Arts.
Minister Garrett is the first Australian Minister to be awarded this Order. He joins a small group of other Australians who have been honoured by the French Government in this way.
The award highlights the extraordinary contribution Minister Garrett has made to Australian life. He is a passionate performer and songwriter whose work with Midnight Oil has defined a special era of Australian contemporary music.
His experiences as an artist are invaluable to his position as Minister for the Arts.
Established in 1957, L'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres recognises a person's significant contribution to arts and literature or to the propagation of these fields.
Minister Garrett is in Paris to accept the Order on his return from the International Whaling Commission in Portugal.
Other Australians who have been awarded an Order include Robyn Archer, Alan R Dodge, Doug Hall, Kylie Minogue, Leo Schofield, David Stratton and Andrea Stretton.