AUSTRALIAN OF THE YEAR:

The late Cardinal George Pell has been a surprise nomination for The Bug’s Australian of the Year for 2022 to be announced on Australinvasion Day on 26 January.

Chair of the judging panel, The Bug’s finance and investment columnist, Morrie Bezzle, (at right) said it was the first time a posthumous nomination had been received for the award.

“We’ve never had a dead ’un before, but there’s a first time for everything,” Mr Bezzle said.

He said the Pell nominations had flooded in since the Cardinal’s death last week.

“There has been literally hundreds of nominations received by the judging panel,” Mr Bezzle said.

“Oddly enough while they have all been lodged by different individuals, they have all come from the same Holt Street address in Surry Hills, Sydney.

“I can’t disclose the names of those lodging nominations or give enough details that might identify them, but I can say they all have a similar theme.

“For instance, one person who nominated Pell – let’s just call him Andrew B – said the late Cardinal was a living saint who deserved the highest honour his nation could bestow.

“Similarly, a Greg S from Holt Street said the late Cardinal was a living saint who deserved the highest honour his nation could bestow.

“Another nomination arrived from a Gerard H who said the late Cardinal was a living saint who deserved the highest honour his nation could bestow.”

Previous winners of the AOTY Award (pictured below clockwise from top left) have been:

2018 – businessman and political party founder Clive Palmer for his charitable work supporting News Crap Australia publications through advertising,

2019 – teenage environmental activist Scomo Turdberg for her unique approach advocating for climate change,  

2020 – National Party Senator Bridget McKenzie for introducing innovative funding distribution models in the former Morrison Government, and   

2021 – News Crap Australia commentator James Morrow for his services to political fiction writing.