Family violence crusader, centenarian in King’s Honours
Will Hodgman was working as a child protection prosecutor when the “fire” first lit in his heart to enter politics to better protect society’s most vulnerable.
Mr Hodgman, who led Tasmania between 2014 and 2020, sees the implementation of his state’s domestic violence reduction plan during his government’s tenure as one of the most significant changes.
“Seeing how governments were failing to adequately protect and care for vulnerable people in communities around the world, including my own state, was something I wanted to build on,” he told AAP.
“The effort to enter our parliament and carry out one of the most important reforms was that fire I felt in my heart.”
The former Liberal prime minister was given Australia’s highest civilian honour, Companion of the Order (AC), for outstanding service to the people and parliament of Tasmania, to economic growth and policy reform, to the law and to the community.
“It’s a pretty deep mix of emotions… tremendous pride and gratitude,” he said.
“I am extremely happy to be working alongside some extraordinary people and, most importantly, with the strong support of my family, my greatest support.”
Governor-General Sam Mostyn announced the King’s Birthday 2026 Honors List on Sunday, congratulating 949 people for their service to the community.
Mr Hodgman also served as the country’s high commissioner to Singapore during the COVID-19 pandemic.
He is based in the Sunshine State and chairs the boards of Queensland Trade and Investment and Invest Gold Coast.
“This honor reinforces for me the responsibility, but also the opportunity, to continue to contribute in any way I can and live up to everything it represents,” he said.
More than 700 people were recognized in the general division of the Order of Australia.
Of these, five were appointed Companions of the Order (AC), 40 were Officers of the Order (AO), 83 were appointed Members of the Order (AM), and 475 were awarded the Medal of the Order (OAM).
Former politician and gender equality advocate Natasha Stott Despoja was among those appointed as Companion of the Order.
He is joined by accomplished mathematician Terence Chi-Shen Tao, William Rawlinson for his research and teaching in public health, and Janet Calvert-Jones, a philanthropist from the Murdoch dynasty.
The late Katie Allen, who served as a Victorian Liberal MP from 2019 to 2022, has been appointed an Officer of the Order.
He died in December at the age of 59 after contracting a rare form of cancer.
Dr Allen has authored more than 400 peer-reviewed publications in leading medical journals and is an authority on pediatric food allergy, changing the way it is diagnosed and treated in Australia and abroad.
The youngest person to receive the award was 34-year-old Sarah Ward OAM, who was recognized for her service to the community through outreach organisations.
The eldest is Florence Drury OAM, 106, for her services in a variety of roles.
The awards were divided between 471 men and 229 women.
The three categories of King’s Birthday Honors include Order of Australia awards, meritorious awards and distinguished and conspicuous military decorations.
“I am delighted to announce and congratulate the extraordinary Australians honored in the 2026 King’s Birthday list,” Ms Mostyn said.
“The work of our award recipients and the contributions of the thousands of Australians nominated and recognized throughout the history of our honors system is something we can be very proud to celebrate.”
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