Alan Joyce (AC)

[mannej]

Was there this level of cynicism when this occurred?

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-26/john-borghetti/8213384?pfmredir=sm

 

[Princess Fiona]

Was there this level of cynicism when this occurred?

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-26/john-borghetti/8213384?pfmredir=sm

Good question. Can't recall a thread on it but I haven't searched back.

 

[basso]

While I think it is a well deserved award, I wonder if there was some work done in the background after JB got his award....

 

[Pushka]

Was there this level of cynicism when this occurred?

http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-26/john-borghetti/8213384?pfmredir=sm

I'm always cynical about these awards. Just like Sir Sir Prince Phillip.

Blanchett getting the award gets me antsy more than Joyce though. Her industry hands out the gongs (BAFTA, Oscars etc) and that's enough.

 

[drron]

Was there this level of cynicism when this occurred?

John Borghetti - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Though AJ has been made a Companion a higher grade than Officer which is the award JB got.

 

[Limewood]

When I see these awards given out to many who have not contributed to society in such a positive way, like medicine and helping those less fortunate, it makes my blood boil, an actor and a CEO what!, my mother worked her backside off for more than five decades helping those in need like sub normal children and finding funds for a huge care centre, hospital fund raising, on the Board of the Parents & Citizens Assoc. and in her local newspaper printing business gave away thousands of dollars to those in need, mind you she was rewarded an MBE for services given to the community, and justifiably so.

 

[drron]

At least with the old Imperial Honors you knew how they were earnt-
MBE-My Bl**dy Efforts.
OBE-Others Bl**dy Efforts.
etc.

 

[Danger]

Admire him or detest him, it pays to be the one to fly the politicians, the high and the mighty around!

Free drinks in the Chairman's...

Politicians do not decide recipients of Australian honours.

 

[levelnine]

I think it's well deserved personally.
I have no problem with anyone on big or small salaries being recognized for the contribution they have made to Australia.

On that criteria, every firefighter, police officer, ambulance driver, teacher, nurse, doctor, public servant and defence force officer who does an admirable job should receive an award.

 

[whatmeworry]

I can never understand why people get such awards for - doing their job. Services to aviation, transport and tourism.

At least the military is providing a public service.

Joyce's job is to increase the bank balance of private shareholders.

Maybe but these awards make me cranky pants.

I think it's well deserved personally.
I have no problem with anyone on big or small salaries being recognized for the contribution they have made to Australia.

Politicians do not decide recipients of Australian honours.

It has been know for a while that heads of industry (Men) get employees to fill out nominations for Australian honours to skew who really deserves the awards.

Finally, someone has arrived to save me. Or at least save me from my twice-yearly rage. Yep. Every New Year's Day, every Queen's birthday public holiday, I scour the lists of those who get honours and I am totally infuriated.
It's a long list of white men getting yet another reward for the jobs they are already paid to do. The lawyers. The doctors. The superannuated politicians. I get that some of these people have contributed way above what they are paid to do. Yet mostly they are paid quite a lot and have rarely saved a life or changed a life.

It's four parts of hell and this particular path is paved with my good intentions. Only the first line is straightforward. Yes, I know her name. I've even typed her name into the required box about half a dozen times. It's the rest of the form that is a killer, and which requires you to know much more about the person than should be necessary.

Here's an example. Place of birth. Not just the country but the actual town or suburb. Or the certificate of "naturalisation" and its goddam number.

Fill out that bloody form and nominate a woman for an Australian honour

 

[amaroo]

Good on him.

Things could have turned out very different if it wasn't for that fellow at Samuel J Herman's hedge fund ..... he must give thanks to him everyday of the week.

 

[Princess Fiona]

On that criteria, every firefighter, police officer, ambulance driver, teacher, nurse, doctor, public servant and defence force officer who does an admirable job should receive an award.

No, I disagree.

 

[SYD]

His most prominent public advocacy, Marriage Equality is very much in his own personal interest.

Well, actually no. He (Irish) and his partner (Kiwi) already have legal rights not available to Australians.

 

[Ikara]

The military get them for turning up, why shouldn't other people? Or even abolish them altogether?

When I "turned up" in Vietnam there was some pr!ck shooting at me. I hope I don't have to "turn up" anywhere ever gain!

Just a thought.

JB

 

[wanderer_au]

So much crazy can be explored on this topic (why isn't it moved to the Playground, mods?)

1. Powerful people with big egos always crave recognition. I'd much rather give this guy a jewelled brooch to wear on fancy occasions, than appoint him to a position where he could become a crony that made decisions not necessarily in the greater public interest.
2. Politicians can absolutely nominate people to this award - it's just disguised. There was a great article in the AFR magazine about it a few years ago. If you have access to Lexis Nexis, you should be able to find it. Basically, the premier of your state gets to give a yes/no to anyone up for an AO or AC.
3. People used to get awards when they held certain jobs but that's because they were compensation for a life of public service that meant they had chosen to forego financial reward. But these days everyone's agile, everyone "consults" and makes a motza after they leave public life - no one misses out on the big bucks if you're at the pointy end.
4. Today's list shows you can totally game the system. Look how many academics in today's QB list - it seems like half of the AOs and ACs are professors of this and that. Their work is great, but it shows you how they nominate each other and game it for each other. The AFR article I refer to spelled all this out. If you're someone who has access to the Chairman's lounge, and you want the gold lapel badge and the fancy insignia for black tie dinners, you can hire a PR agency to handle the paperwork and secure your appointment to a few boards to broaden your application for a gong.
5. Knights and dames were mocked by some, but add some traditional style to it all. At least people understand the award. Does anyone really understand the difference between an OAM or an AM? You have to double-take to work out the difference, frankly.

In another life, I saw a lot of the nominations for these, and I knew a lot of people that wore the dicky gold lapel badges. The thing makes me laugh. If offered one, I'd decline. But I don't begrudge Joyce - I'd just prefer he got his after he'd finished as CEO, rather than during.

 

[levelnine]

No, I disagree.

What is the relevant point of difference? Except for the fact that Joyce earns a lot more than most of these people? And that many of these people do far more to help the Australian community?

 

[JohnPhelan]

Yes. That's an option. I thought they had to be honest. Maybe Johnny/Tony did a recall.

Actually, all of these awards under the Order of Australia were begun by Gough Whitlam in 1975. Nothing to do with Howard or Abbott.

I'm really surprised that people could be unaware of this, given they get lots of publicity twice a year (New Years' and Queen's Birthday).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Order_of_Australia

 

[JohnPhelan]

We can disagree on that, but lets talk about Mr Joyce. He arrived in Australia in 1996 and joined Ansett, then worked for Qantas, becoming CEO in 2008.

He has performed very well for shareholders, finally bringing the airline back to significant profit in the last couple of years.
All in all great for shareholders, but nearly all at the expense of Qantas passengers.

You do get that there would be NO Qantas passengers if he didn't done all that he has done at Qantas? There would be no airline - it was going broke and quickly following the AN trajectory.

 

[theblank]

Alan Joyce has made an outstanding contribution to Qantas since his appointment in 2008:
- taken qantas from No 2 to No 9 in airline global rankings
- EBIT 1.5% and Return on equity 0.5%. Compared to Air NZ 5.9% and 10.6% respectively
- massive asset write downs, redundancies and favourable fuel prices contributed to improved financial performance

Joyce really deserves so Australian of the Year for this effort.

 

[kermatu]

Unfortunately I think honours are skewed toward those with existing profiles, fame, wealth, luck and popularity. And for those cohorts who have dedicated honours just for them (public service, military, emergency services etc). While I personally honour far more those who do community work or are recognised for something above and beyond for which they get no or very minimal remuneration - and think it should be limited to them - I don't begrudge any honours and would simply congratulate them all.

Only an issue a couple of days a year so quite easy to ignore.

But I do have a bit of a chuckle when I see someone's signature block on emails include their post-nominal letters - pretty w*nky.