Government House
CANBERRA ACT 2600
17 June 2016
ORDER OF AUSTRALIA
It is notified for general information that the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia has accepted the resignation as a member of the Order of Australia in the General Division with effect from 17 June 2016 of:
Mr Joseph Damian WAKIM
To cease to have the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia
By His Excellency’s Command
Mark Fraser
Official Secretary to the Governor-General
Secretary of the Order of Australia
Overview
The C2016G00855 Order of Australia, Gazetted on 17 June 2016, is a formal announcement notifying the public of Mr Joseph Damian Wakim’s resignation from the Order of Australia in the General Division, effective from the same date. The resignation results in Mr Wakim ceasing to have the award of the Medal of the Order of Australia. This notification, issued by Mark Fraser, the Official Secretary to the Governor-General and Secretary of the Order of Australia, serves to formally recognise and publicise the cessation of Mr Wakim’s membership within the Order. While the specific reasons for Mr Wakim’s resignation are not detailed within the text, the notification adheres to the formal process established for such resignations within the Order of Australia.
Scope and Application
The C2016G00855 legislation pertains to the formal acceptance of a resignation from the Order of Australia, specifically involving Mr Joseph Damian Wakim. The Order of Australia is a prestigious honour that recognises outstanding achievement and merit by Australians or other individuals in service to Australia or humanity at large. This particular notification, gazetted on 17 June 2016, relates to the termination of Mr Wakim's membership in the General Division of the Order, effective from the same date. The geographic and jurisdictional reach of this act is nationwide, as the Order of Australia is a Commonwealth-level institution. The legislation does not specify any exclusions or exemptions and applies directly to Mr Wakim. Any further application or interpretation of the Order’s criteria and processes may be governed by subordinate instruments or established protocols within the Order of Australia.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the C2016G00855 (Gazette) notification inform the public of the formal acceptance of a resignation from the Order of Australia. Section 1 of the document provides the formal notice that the Governor-General has accepted the resignation of Mr Joseph Damian Wakim as a member of the Order of Australia in the General Division. The notification specifies that Mr Wakim's resignation takes effect from 17 June 2016. This section ensures transparency and provides a clear record of the change in status of Mr Wakim's membership within the Order of Australia.
The obligations and requirements imposed by this Act pertain to the formal process of resignation from the Order of Australia. The Governor-General, as the head of the Order, is obligated to formally accept the resignation and communicate this decision to the public. The notification must include the name of the individual resigning, the effective date of the resignation, and the specific division from which the resignation is being accepted. These formalities are essential for maintaining the integrity and public recognition of the Order of Australia.
In terms of consequences, this notification itself does not outline any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for the breach of any requirements related to resignation from the Order of Australia. Typically, resignation from the Order of Australia is a voluntary process, and while it is governed by formal procedures, it does not attract penalties as it is not considered an infringement or breach of any legislative requirements. The document serves primarily to update the public on the change in membership status, ensuring that all records and public acknowledgments are accurately updated to reflect the current membership of the Order of Australia.