Paul,

I knew Tom Uren and as I said I often had a yarn to him on the ferry to or from Birchgrove, we had a mutual friend, the late Arthur Gentle of Rockley (NSW) who had been a POW with him on the Burma Railway.

So I have a fair idea of how Tom would have reacted to abuse of a man who did his bit in WW II and whom Tom had met more than once.
We had, in fact, discussed Prince Phillip when I told Tom that I'd met him once in his capacity as the patron of the Alvis Car Club in England, Prince Phillip drove a rather hot 1926,12/50 'Beetleback' Super Sports model (mine was a 'Ducksback' Super Sports of the same year).

You are entitled to your opinion but mine is based on personal knowledge of what Tom Uren had said to me.

So inwardly draw your cranium yourself.

Suseonline,
“I am certain good ol' Phil won't give a damn about this 'honour'“
Don't be so sure — apparently he collects them!

I am getting very concerned that the leading nations of the world have their animal awards to bestow upon His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Earl of Merioneth, Baron Greenwich, Royal Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, Extra Knight of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle, Grand Master and First and Principal Knight Grand Cross of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member of the Order of Merit, Knight of the Order of Australia, Additional Member of the Order of New Zealand, Extra Companion of the Queen's Service Order, Royal Chief of the Order of Logohu, Extraordinary Companion of the Order of Canada, Extraordinary Commander of the Order of Military Merit, Canadian Forces Decoration, Lord of Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, Privy Councillor of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Personal Aide-de-Camp to Her Majesty, Lord High Admiral of the United Kingdom and Buff to his mates.

If that is to much to say in one breath, then just call him "Buff" for short, short for buffoon!

Gee, have I used up my 350 word limit getting Buffs name out. As I was saying, I am very concerned that leading world nations are ahead of us, bestowing animal awards on you know who. For instance Zaire was able to bestow the leopard award. Iceland gave him the falcon, and The Netherlands threw in a lion. This should be seen as a national disgrace. Here we are with loads of marsupials and we haven't as yet be able to bestow one upon Buff. I know he's not that keen on kola bears, pissy little animals they are, but surely we could award The Royal Order of the Wombat or something, and avoid national humiliation! All those in favour start blinking now.

‘morning all,

I just love a bit of hypocrisy. In 1988 Bob Hawke, recommended that Prince Philip receive what was then Australia's highest honor, the OA.

For a bit of a giggle I’ve substituted Bob Hawk for Tony Abbott in some of the comments.

@ Suseonline;

“I was surprised that our devout republican PM Bob Hawk put forward a non-Australian for an incredibly ancient award like the Order of Australia”

“Has Bob Hawk lost the plot?

“Even I feel a little sorry for Bob Hawk.......what with the whole country either laughing at or being annoyed with him”.

“Is anyone else as embarrassed as I am about Bob Hawk?”

@Poirot;

“And in doing so Bob Hawk has sent a great big "up yours" to the rest of Australia”

I guess the only difference in 1988 was there was no “twittertariat” to promote the hypocrisy.

Feel free to discuss “Goose meets Gander”.

Keep spinning spindoc,

First of all Goosey Abbott introduces his Bunyip line of honours...and down the track of an extremely fraught year when he and his govt are "desperate" for some credibility, he makes a "captain's call" and awards Phil a knighthood.

Apart from giving the entire nation a collective hernia from laughter, he's got almost the entire right-wing cringing.

That's not easy to do...note the Courier Mail has him festooned on its front page in a jester's hat. Murdoch even went so far to tweet his displeasure.

Abbott's a goner - and my prediction is Julie Bishop will be leader not too far down the track.

Poirot,

I agree that Abbott’s as good as gone. And in addition to losing the highground they hold by not having yet booted out a first-term Prime Minister, they’re going to have replace Abbott even sooner than Labor did Rudd. It's beautiful.

I’m not sure how they’ll go about a transition to Bishop, though. Abbott’s not going to leave without a fight and after Gillard’s “knifing” of Rudd, it’s not exactly going to be a good look for women in politics if our second female Prime Minister acquires the job through another “knifing”.

It’ll be interesting to see how plays out.