Australian Government retains national honour for Rolf Harris, five years after his conviction for the indecent assaults of four children
Image: Mikey via Flickr
The Australian Federal Government has continued to allow a national honour to remain in place for former entertainer Rolf Harris for five years after he was convicted in the United Kingdom of indecently assaulting four children in July 2014.
The Australian Government stripped Harris of his Officer and Member of the Order of Australia honours in February 2015, but did not rescind a third national honour, a Centenary Medal awarded to Harris in 2001 for his "service to entertainment, charity and the community."
The record on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website for a Centenary Medal awarded to Rolf Harris in 2001. (Source: Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, October 8, 2019.)
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website explains that the Centenary Medal commemorates 100 years of federation, and "acknowledges those who contributed to the success of Australia’s first hundred years as a federal nation. The award recognises the many Australians who laid solid foundations for the nation’s future." The former Prime Minister of Australia John Howard announced the Centenary Medal on 28 December 2001, which is now open only to centenarians.
The award of Australian national honours is overseen by the Governor-General's Office, and decisions regarding the termination of Order of Australia honours are made by the Council for the Order of Australia.
A Freedom of Information application made earlier this year to the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General seeking documentation of recommendations made by the Council for the Order of Australia regarding the termination and continuation of Harris' national honours was refused on the following basis:
Source: Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General
A spokesperson for the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet said "The Governor-General terminated Mr Harris’ appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia in February 2015.
The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet is undertaking the process of reviewing the Centenary Medal awarded to Mr Harris.”
*Update, December 18, 2019: Since the publishing of this article on October 18, 2019, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet have quietly removed the listing for the Centenary Medal that was retained for Rolf Harris after his convictions for the indecent assaults of children.
The Department has been contacted for comment, and is yet to confirm whether the removal of the record for the award from their site means the Medal has been stripped from Mr Harris.
The record on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website for a Centenary Medal awarded to Rolf Harris in 2001, which was altered by the Department between November and December 2019. (Source: Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, December 17, 2019.)