Bring back knights and dames, says Tony Abbott, page-2

Abbott is correct.

If we are going to have Honours to mark work and contributions and individuals of note in our society which indeed we should it is then utterly against reason, against logic and against our own Precedent to omit the rank of highest order in our Tradition.

Of course , the rank of Knights and Dames should be reinstated as the highest rank within the Order of Australia ( with the post nominals AK and AD respectively. )

There is no higher rank within our own Honours system and while this rank is omitted the Order and our Honours system is not complete.

The abolition of this rank is another scourge and work of vandalism committed by Turnbull, yet more of the damage caused by him.

No -one truly believes the rank of OAM or AM or AO or even AC equals in calibre and mark of recognition the rank of Knight or Dame ( AK / AD ).

Without that rank, we miss the opportunity to properly mark out and honour the most accomplished people in our national life from poets to writers, from naval men and women to scientists.

With the absence of the rank of Knight and Dame from the Australian Honours system, a profound grace note remains absent from our national life and the way we honour our countrymen and women.

Abbott is correct. It is well in order to reinstitute the rank of Knight and Dame.

New Zealand has had the good sense and wisdom to continue the rank and so should we.