" J,,, USTRAUA
PRIME MINISTER 26 January 1986
The Federal Government has agreed on a number of new awards to
enhance and develop the Australian honours system.
The new awards will be established to enable recognition of
outstanding service by particular groups in the community and
members of the Defence Force in operational and non-operationalservice.
They will be in addition to other awards already available within
the Order of Australia, the Bravery Decorations system and the
National Medal instituted in 1975 and the Defence Force Service
Awards instituted in 1982.
The establishment of the new awards will build on the existing
elements of the Australian honours system to give Australia, for
the first time, its own comprehensive indigenous system of
honours and awards.
This is in line with Government policy.
The Government has made no recommendations for honours arid awards
in the Imperial -system.
The Queen has agreed in principle to the Government's
recommendations for the new awards.
There will be a new range of awards for Defence Force personnel
which will be common to all ranks and services.
In view of the historical importance of the Victoria Cross to
Australians, the decoration will remain as the highest award for
gallantry in action.
The Victoria Cross will be established within the Australian
honours system by the issue of Australian Letters Patent for the
award by The Queen of Australia.
Future recommendations for the decoration will be made by the
Australian Government direct to The Queen for her approval as
Queen of Australia.
Other Defence awards will be available in war-time to recognise
gallantry and outstanding service.
Awards for non-operational service and another for nurses in the
Defence Force will also be established.
Several other awards will be introduced for particular service
within the community and to the nation.
2.
They will include medals for distinguished service by members of
Australian Fire Services, for extraordinary service by Antarctic
expeditioners and for outstanding public service.
A new award for distinguished service by members of Australian
Police Forces had already been announced last May.
The formal criteria for the new awards will be announced when The
Queen approves the relevant new Letters Patent and Regulations
governing the various medals and decorations.
The regulations for the National Medal will also be extended to
allow members of the Australian Protective Service and
Correctional and Emergency Services to qualify.
Members of Police Forces, Fire and Ambulance Services are
presently eligible for the National Medal after completing
years diligent service.
A number of amendments to the Constitution of the Order of
Australia will also be made, including:
removal of the provision to appoint Knights and Dames.
( This will not affect existing appointees at this
level);
provision for the representation of the Northern
Territory and the Australian Capital Territory on the
Council for the order of Australia in addition to the
existing State Government representation;
raising non-Government representation on the Council
from three to seven; and
a substantial increase in the annual allocation of
awards available from about 400 to 700.
Australia will also move to have its own regulations governing
the acceptance by Australians of foreign awards.
Some other matters affecting the administration of the Australian
Honours system will also be introduced.
A schedule of the new awards is attached.
Attachment
A. SCHEDULE OF NEW GENERAL AWARDS
1. POLICE SERVICE
S For distinguished service
An Australian Police Medal ( announced on 31 May 1985)
2. FIRE SERVICE
S For distinguished service
An Australian Fire Service Medal
3. POLAR EXPEDITIONERS
For extraordinary service in the Antarctic Region
An Australian Antarctic Medal
4. PUBLIC SERVICE
For outstanding service
An Australian Public Service Medal
Attachment
B. SCHEDULE OF NEW DEFENCE FORCE AWARDS
i. FOR OPERATIONAL SERVICE
S For gallantry in action
Victoria Cross
An Australian Star of Gallantry
An Australian Gallantry Medal
An Australian Commendation for Gallantry
For distinguished service in operations
An Australian Distinguished Service Cross
An Australian Distinguished Service Medal
An Australian Commendation for Distinguished Service
Unit citations for operational service
An Australian Unit Citation for Gallantry
An Australian Meritorious Unit Citation
* For service in minor campaigns
An Australian Active Service Medal
* In accordance with established tradition, separate medals
will be struck for each major campaign to recognise service
in major conflicts, if and when the need arises in the
future.
2. FOR NON-OPERATIONAL SERVICE
For service in peacekeeping and other military, but
non war-like operations
An Australian Service Medal
( announced on 23 September 1985)
For outstanding achievement or devotion to duty
( non-operational)
An Australian Conspicuous Service Cross
An Australian Commendation for Conspicuous Service
For champion rifle shots
An Australian Medal for Champion Shots of the Defence
Force
3. NURSING AWARD FOR OPERATIONAL AND NON-OPERATIONAL SERVICE
For outstanding service by nurses in the Defence Force
in both operational and non-operational situations
An Australian Nursing Service Cross
All of the above awards will be established by new Letters Patent
issued by The Queen of Australia.