Overview

The Gazette C2022G00781, dated 24 August 2022, announces an honorary appointment made by the Governor-General. Dr Patricia Moira Moore has been appointed as an Honorary Member (AM) in the General Division for her significant service to women's reproductive health in Australia. This appointment recognises Dr Moore's contributions to the field of women's reproductive health, reflecting the importance of her work and the positive impact it has had on the community. The Governor-General, acting by His Excellency's command, authorised the appointment through the official Secretary, Paul Singer MVO. This appointment underscores the Australian government's commitment to recognising and rewarding those who have made significant contributions to the nation, particularly in areas of public health and welfare.

Scope and Application

The Act in question pertains to the appointment of individuals to the Order of Australia, specifically the appointment of Dr Patricia Moira Moore as an Honorary Member in the General Division. The Act applies to individuals who are to be recognised for their significant service to Australia or to humanity at large. This particular appointment is for Dr Moore's significant service to women's reproductive health in Australia, thereby highlighting the scope of the recognition to encompass contributions towards public health and welfare within the country. The jurisdictional reach of this Act is national, as the Order of Australia is a Commonwealth institution, reflecting its application across the entirety of Australia, including the states and territories. There are no exclusions or exemptions specified in this particular appointment; however, the criteria for appointment generally involve an individual's meritorious service, which could implicitly exclude those without such contributions. The application of the Act may extend through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or guidelines, that may further detail the nomination and selection process for appointments to the Order of Australia.

Key Provisions

The main operative section of this piece of legislation is the announcement of the appointment of Dr Patricia Moira Moore as an Honorary Member (AM) in the General Division. This appointment recognises her significant service to women’s reproductive health in Australia (Section 3). This announcement serves as formal recognition of her contributions and signifies her honorary position within the General Division. The appointment is effective from the date of gazette, which in this case is 24 August 2022. The Act imposes no obligations or requirements on the parties or entities it governs in this context, as it is a formal announcement of an honorary appointment rather than a regulatory statute. The obligations and requirements would typically pertain to the individual being appointed, such as maintaining the honour and dignity associated with the title, and contributing to the causes or fields for which the honour was bestowed. In terms of offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach, the Act does not detail any such provisions in this instance. The appointment is an honorary recognition, not a regulatory or statutory requirement, and thus does not carry with it any penalties or legal consequences for non-compliance. The nature of the announcement is ceremonial and celebratory, rather than punitive or regulatory.