When monarchist Tony Abbott became Australia’s Prime Minister in September 2013, he promised no surprises. However, he seems to have ambushed friend and foe alike with his reinstatement of knights and dames as part of the honours system.
Twitter faced meltdown, down under, on 25 March 2013. The #auspol Tweetdeck feed was moving so fast that it was impossible to read. Not only were the hashtags #KnightsandDames and #Dames trending in Australia for hours after the announcement, but #KnightsandDames and Australia also hit the Worldwide top ten.
Knights and Dames twitter trends 25 March 2013
Many of the responses were satirical, with the inevitable medieval political jousting:
What Abbot sees …… and what we see! #knightsanddames #auspol pic.twitter.com/6ILrbjMx5T
— Tory – Earl of Bogan (@DopedByMurdoch) March 26, 2014
Tony Abbott wants to restore jousting and witch-dunking as pastimes for his vassals #auspol #WorstGuvmintEver
— Lord Judge 'n Jury (@sprocket___) March 25, 2014
Some see it as a nostalgia trip:
#Knighthood – wonderful decision #PM Tony Abbott. Please could we have pounds, shillings and pence back, too?
— Bear (@s8s8s8222) March 25, 2014
Supporters of the PM are also looking to our past:
I'm so glad we have a Prime Minister who is not ashamed of Australias European heritage.Unlike ALP who pander to Greens. #auspol #Knighthood
— ME (@stevesownnacc) March 25, 2014
Probably the greatest of all generasl in WW1, John Monash was recognized by The King knighting him on the battlefield pic.twitter.com/qTi85v4c60
— David Flint (@profdavidflint) March 25, 2014
Images have also been popular:
Tony Abbott announces changes to the Australian flag, to fall in line with #knightsanddames pic.twitter.com/632IKX8Fio
— Poet Laureate (@notGareth) March 25, 2014
A Rational Fear featured a series of photos of well-known Aussies in its tumblr post ARISE: Which Knight of Abbott’s round table are you? Each has a suitable punny name such as Sir Cumference for the portly Clive Palmer, Sir Mon for Cardinal George Pell and Sir Loin for the Agriculture minister Barnaby Joyce.
Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce – Sir Loin Image: Tumblr – A Rational Fear
Even politicians have joined the visual lampooning. Opposition parliamentarian Tony Burke is ready for combat on his Facebook page:
Tony Burke ready for combat – Facebook photos
References to Monty Python’s movie The Holy Grail have been popular:
#knightsanddames #auspol #auspythons pic.twitter.com/thcI79D94R
— Lauren Bok (@bokla) March 25, 2014
My thought about Tony Abbott's #Knighthood plans can be best summed up by Monty Python… "I fart in your general direction" #AusPol
— Peter Holden (@BrekkyDJ) March 25, 2014
Former PM John Howard, a close political ally of Tony Abbott, is on everyone’s shortlist for a tap of the sword:
Oh now I get it. Well I guess John Howard had to get his knighthood somehow eh?
— Susan Fahey (@susanfahey) March 25, 2014
At this stage there will only be four members of the #KnightsandDames. If comedian Barry Humphries gets the nod, Australia could have two for the price of one:
Australia's First Couple. No not Abbott and Margie. Sir Les and Dame Edna. #knightsanddames #auspol pic.twitter.com/ErtpuKB9Lt
— Lord Geek of Oceania (@geeksrulz) March 25, 2014
This comment was inevitable, given the date:
Someone needs to tell the Abbott Government they're a week too early #AprilFool #KnightsAndDames #auspol
— Sir Barossa Observer (@BarossaObserver) March 25, 2014
3 comments
PS It is hard to recognise friend and foe alike on Australian social media as many users have added a title or made other changes to their names to fit in with the new order. I now have friends called Countess and Earl as well as Sir and Dame. There is nothing like a dame!
Such a simple mockery that so many in Oz have adopted. I have a friend who has changed their avatar name to “Lord Reverend _____—___” along with several sirs and lady’s.
Is this what Australian politics has come to?
An Australian Prime Minister who doesn’t consult with it’s constituents?
Perhaps this should have been something considered in a referendum, not an executive order. Sir Tony is against becoming a republic, yet he acts like he is Australia’s first President.
It seems to be a classic case of self-parody and hubris by Abbott, making for a satirists’ picnic.