IT’S been described as “stupid,” “embarrassing” and “a total disaster.”
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But while many of Prime Minister Tony Abbott’s colleagues are condemning his “captain’s pick” to award Prince Philip a knighthood, Angus Taylor won’t be doing the same.
The Hume MP declined to venture an opinion yesterday on the controversial move.
“It’s inappropriate for me to critique the choice of individual award recipients,” he told the Post.
“Others have expressed a view but I’m not going to do it.”
Among them was Nationals Minister Barnaby Joyce who said the knights and dames awards system, announced by Mr Abbott last March, should be kept for Australians.
While not wanting to embroil himself in the debate, Mr Taylor, a Liberal MP of 16 months, says the honours are a worthy initiative.
“I think it’s incredibly important to acknowledge people who make a contribution to the nation,” he said.
“It’s a good system, a great tradition and I strongly support it.”
Mr Taylor argued the award rightly highlighted the role of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme which had shaped 23,000 Australians, including himself.
He declined to say whether Mr Abbott’s decision had called his judgement into question, as some MPs were suggesting yesterday.
Liberal backbenchers were reported to be considering calling a meeting to discuss the government’s direction.
Among them was Warren Entsch who told the Sydney Morning Herald that the nomination would have been rejected if it went to the party room.
“I’ve got a dozen people in my electorate, any one of them would be more worthy,” he said.
Goulburn MP Pru Goward also declined to publicly air an opinion on the appointment.
“I am in the middle of an election campaign pursuing the issues important to the electorate of Goulburn,” she said.
“I want to see improved local services and infrastructure. That’s my job. That’s my focus. If other people want to be distracted by this, it is up to them, but Prince Philip’s Knighthood is neither here nor there when it comes to improving the lives of people in the Goulburn electorate.”
Goulburn Liberal Party president Grant Pearce declined comment.
