SM,

"...The COOA is completely unknown outside of Australia...."

The same goes for Tony Abbott and his kooky ideas....except where he makes such a fool of himself, the international press can't help but take note.

P,

Your vacuous post indicates that you have no argument. Knighthoods exist in countries with no monarchies, the awards TA is looking to bestow are Australian not British, and knighthood holds far more prestige than COOA.

SM,

France's tradition goes right back in unbroken tradition...erm...they actually had knights, etc.

Abbott's is a stunt which in modern Australia is just an exercise in faux elitism.

Jester Abbott could come out dressed in blue pantaloons with a bucket on his head, and you'd find some way to talk it up.

Joke!

Here's an interesting commentary:

http://www.theage.com.au/comment/knights-and-dames-are-sorted-but-will-tony-abbott-see-the-centenary-of-world-war-i-through-british-eyes-20140331-zqowj.html#ixzz2xaLnXXal

"In the symbolic landscape of Australian civic culture, Tony Abbott’s restoration last week of Australian knights and dames perhaps stands as one of the most pompous, pretentious, nostalgic and self-indulgent prime ministerial decisions in a generation."

(The cartoon speaks volumes also)

Dear Poirot,

Does this remind you of anything:

1) The Queen of Hearts - "Off With their Heads!"
(Bronwyn Bishop?)

2) Tweedledum and Tweedledee -
(Joe Hockey and Christopher Pyne?)

3) The frontbench all trying to keep their jobs -
"We're painting the Roses Red, We're painting the Roses
Red!"

And so on ...

No wonder Mr Abbott has a distinct taste for Knights
and Dames - (and High Teas - but you must be invited)!

Wonderland is an interesting place to be - for some!

Poirot,

Labor invented the award of "Companion to the order of Australia" ignorant that Orders and companions to orders hark back to feudal England.

In replacing Knighthoods, Labor removed a well recognised award linked back to ancient English nobility and replaced it with a nonsensical unknown award linked back to ancient English nobility.

All these awards, recognition relate to our English heritage, if Labor wants to do anything beyond pointless gesture politics, perhaps they could refer to our aboriginal history.

As far as court Jester, I gave that award to Shorten long ago, along with the recognised titles to Labor politicians of liar to Gillard, common thief to Thomson and Williamson, and village idiot to Conroy.