Overview

The Australian Government has made an honorary appointment to recognise significant contributions to the strengthening of military ties between Australia and the United States of America. The appointment was gazetted on 4 August 2020 and recognises General David L. Goldfein, United States Air Force, as an Honorary Officer (AO) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia. This appointment was made for his distinguished service in fostering the military relationship between the two nations through strategic vision, outstanding personal commitment, and exceptional leadership, as well as for his extraordinary contributions to advancing the capabilities of the Royal Australian Air Force. This honorary appointment underscores the importance of the relationship between Australia and the United States and the commitment to shared defence objectives.

Scope and Application

The Commonwealth of Australia has made an honorary appointment under the Military Division of the Order of Australia for General David L Goldfein of the United States Air Force, recognising his distinguished service in fostering the military relationship between Australia and the United States. This recognition is specifically for his strategic vision, outstanding personal commitment, and exceptional leadership. Furthermore, the appointment acknowledges General Goldfein's extraordinary contributions to enhancing the Royal Australian Air Force's capabilities. The Order of Australia is a prestigious national honours system in Australia that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for their service and achievement. The appointment of General Goldfein as an Honorary Officer in the Military Division of the Order of Australia is a testament to the strong military relationship between Australia and the United States and underscores the value of their partnership. This recognition highlights the importance of fostering international military relationships and advancing national security capabilities.

Key Provisions

The key provisions of the legislation (C2020G00628) centre around the appointment of General David L. Goldfein as an Honorary Officer (AO) in the Military Division of the Order of Australia. This appointment (Section 1) recognises General Goldfein's distinguished service in fostering the military relationship between the United States of America and Australia, highlighting his strategic vision, personal commitment, and exceptional leadership. It also acknowledges his significant contributions to enhancing the Royal Australian Air Force's capabilities. The Act imposes certain obligations and requirements on General Goldfein as an Honorary Officer in the Military Division. While the legislation does not explicitly outline specific duties for Honorary Officers, it generally requires them to uphold the honour and dignity associated with the Order of Australia. This includes representing the values of the Order in their personal and professional activities, and contributing to the promotion of the objectives of the Order. In terms of consequences for breach, the legislation does not detail specific offences or penalties related to the role of Honorary Officers. However, any misconduct or dishonourable actions by an Honorary Officer could lead to revocation of their honour by the Governor-General. Such revocation would not only strip General Goldfein of his title but also tarnish his reputation both within Australia and internationally. Additionally, any actions that bring discredit to the Order of Australia could result in further consequences as determined by the Governor-General or relevant authorities.