National Honours Backlog Leaves Australians Dying Before Recognition
A record number of high-achieving Australians are passing away before they can receive their Australia Day Honours, as a severe processing backlog continues to plague the Governor-General's department. This systemic issue has led to a dramatic increase in posthumous awards, with many nominees waiting years for recognition that arrives too late.
Posthumous Awards Reach Alarming Levels
On Monday, forty individuals received their Australia Day awards posthumously, a figure that has more than doubled compared to ten years ago and represents a significant increase from last year's numbers. Analysis by The Canberra Times reveals that 4.2 percent of the total 949 awards in the latest honours list were posthumous, compared to just 1.8 percent (15 awards) in 2016. This troubling trend has been steadily climbing, particularly since the pandemic period.
The upward trajectory began during the COVID-19 pandemic when posthumous awards surged from 21 in 2020 to 36 the following year, representing a jump from 1.9 percent to 4.3 percent of total awards. In 2025, the number remained high at 34 posthumous awards, accounting for 4.6 percent of all honours granted.
Processing Efficiency Plummets Dramatically
Processing efficiency has deteriorated significantly, with fewer than one in five awards now progressing from nomination to final decision within two years. This marks a dramatic decline from the 90 percent processing rate achieved in 2019-20, which has plummeted to just 16 percent in 2023-24. While the Office of the Official Secretary to the Governor-General (OOSGG) reported a slight improvement to 18 percent in 2024-25, the overall situation remains dire.
A spokesperson for the OOSGG acknowledged that the time between nomination and award presentation has become excessively long in many cases. The office does prioritize nominations when advised of a nominee's ill-health or advanced age, but this reactive approach fails to address the systemic nature of the problem.
Systemic Issues and Financial Constraints
An independent review conducted by Dr Vivienne Thom AM in 2024 identified the root causes as systemic within the OOSGG. The review, commissioned by the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, revealed a backlog of more than 7,200 nominations awaiting research by case officers as of August 2024. Recent investigations confirm this backlog remains substantial at approximately 6,000 nominations.
The backlog has been attributed to multiple factors including IT system failures and inadequate staffing levels. In 2023-24, the OOSGG recorded a $2.5 million deficit, which forced the office to leave vacancies in the Honours Secretariat unfilled. This financial shortfall was primarily driven by a $1.9 million budget overrun in supplier expenses resulting from delays and increased costs in the office's ICT modernisation program.
Failed Technology Implementation
Funds that should have supported staffing were redirected to cover these ICT overruns, further exacerbating the processing delays. The "Cloud Awards" system, specifically designed to improve efficiency, was found to have significant technical deficiencies and lacked the standard operating procedures necessary to properly support staff. This technological failure has contributed substantially to the growing backlog.
Accountability and Governance Concerns
The Thom review highlighted serious accountability issues between the OOSGG and the Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Although the OOSGG operates as a listed entity with independent authority, it falls within the PM&C portfolio. The review found that the office had not consistently consulted with PM&C on new policy proposals or provided timely advice regarding significant financial and operational challenges.
To address these governance gaps, the review recommended establishing regular six-monthly meetings between the Official Secretary and the secretary of PM&C. It also suggested negotiating a shared service arrangement for IT services with an appropriate provider to mitigate existing technological risks.
Proposed Solutions and Implementation Challenges
The review proposed several concrete measures to clear the current backlog, including recruiting a surge workforce of approximately 18 additional staff for a two-year period. It also recommended that the office publish accurate processing times on its website to provide greater transparency to nominators and the public.
A spokesperson for the OOSGG confirmed that the office is taking action to address the backlog and has already implemented several recommendations from the Thom review. However, they acknowledged that full implementation would require additional time and resources.
The review emphasized that processing times exceeding two years are often too long for elderly recipients nominated for lifetime achievements. For dozens of Australians each year, this delay means that a lifetime of contribution and achievement receives recognition only after they have passed away, depriving them of the honour they deserved to experience personally.
