AUSTRALIAN HONOURS:

Former prime minister Tony Abbott says the current system of national Order of Australia Awards is now an “outdated embarrassment” in need of urgent reform.

Mr Abbott said he was moved to make a public statement about the awards after being shocked by the lack of recognition for the late Cardinal George Pell in the list of national award winners announced on Australia Day.

The former PM, who said he was observing a period of mourning for the late cardinal (main picture), plans to write to the Governor-General to protest the “clear snub” given to Pell.

“The Governor-General, whose name escapes me just now, is Chancellor of the Order of Australia and heads the whole awards system,” Mr Abbott explained.

“Cardinal Pell was an obvious choice for one of the top Companion of the Order of Australia Awards for the saintly and blameless life he led serving others.

“I’m not the only one who thinks that Cardinal Pell has been overlooked or snubbed by the woke, far-left decision-makers who draw up the honours lists.

“I’ve spoken to lots of average Aussies who agree with me – people like my former chief of staff Peta Credlin, and even people I regard as left-wingers like Greg Sheridan, Andrew Bolt, and Gerard Henderson.

“I don’t think it’s too late to give Cardinal Pell the type of award he so clearly deserves and I don’t think a knighthood should be out of the question.

“After all, I gave one to the late Duke of Edinburgh Prince Philip, and that was very well received.

“George Pell is already a cardinal – a prince of the church as they are termed – so an Australian knighthood would be a logical addition to the honours he rightly accumulated during his life.

“The fact he has been denied this or any other Order of Australia Award shows just how out of touch the whole system has become,” Mr Abbott said.