In the Eye of the Beholder

I’ve always been interested in our Living National Treasures; my distant cousin, poet Les Murray is a Living Treasure. This past weekend seven new Living National Treasures were announced, to replace the seven original treasures who have died since the list was last refreshed in 2004. One newly announced treasure – Clive Palmer - is causing a lot of comment. In fact, the National Trust has refused to endorse Mr Palmer’s inclusion as a Living National Treasure.

It sounded too strange: the body that chooses the National Treasures is refusing to endorse one of the people it chose? Yesterday’s fiasco made me realise that I had no idea who selects the National Treasures, or what criteria guides selection. So off to Google I went.

Selecting the National Living Treasures is the responsibility of the National Trust of Australia. The first 100 National Living Treasures were named in 1997: the only criteria I can find is that the nominated Aussie had to be living, and had to have made a significant contribution in any field. When new National Treasures are required to replace those who have died (or had their status revoked due to conduct unbecoming a National Treasure), the National Trust publicises it, and encourages members of the public to nominate people they consider worthy. Each nomination is counted as a single vote. Simple.

I have to wonder who voted for Clive Palmer to be on this list, and I’m not alone. After yesterday’s announcement, my twitter feed was rich with Palmer-derision, and not just from the left. No-one is doubting his wealth, but it seems that almost everyone is doubting whether he is the kind of person who should be on a list of National Treasures. His current, very public slanging match with Treasurer Wayne Swan is keeping the snark alive.

These tweets are just some of the tweets from this morning:

@theprojecttv: Clive Palmer is the worst National Treasure since that Nicholas Cage movie.

@rooney83: Now @nationaltrustau made Clive palmer a “national treasure” do u think we can sell him to China like the rest of our national treasures?

@tradrmum: Clive Palmer needs to either run for the LNP or GTFO of our faces. Hideous man, poisoning public discourse for personal gain.

@DebinMelbourne Listening to Clive Palmer on the radio. What a pompous paternalistic nong.

@cannibalkate Clive Palmer being a National Treasure diminishes the recognition on the other, far worthier nominees.

@liamthompson1 Clive Palmer a living treasure? I think a lot of people would prefer him to be a buried treasure at the moment.

The current list, including the new Treasures named yesterday, is:

1. Phillip Adams, humanist, social commentator

2. Faith Bandler, academic, activist and advocate for Indigenous Australians and South Sea Islander people

3. Marie Bashir, Governor of New South Wales, professor

4. John Bell, actor

5. Geoffrey Blainey, professor, historian

6. Raelene Boyle, Olympic runner, sports commentator

7. Sir Jack Brabham, world champion Formula One driver

8. Father Frank Brennan, social commentator

9. Senator Bob Brown, politician, Australian Greens activist

10. Julian Burnside, barrister, refugee rights advocate, author

11. Don Burrows, musician

12. Dr Harry Butler, naturalist and conservationist

13. The Reverend Tim Costello, social activist, commentator

14. The Reverend Bill Crews, social activist

15. Russell Crowe, actor

16. Bart Cummings, racehorse trainer

17. Betty Cuthbert, Olympic runner

18. Judy Davis, actress

19. Sir William Deane, former High Court judge and former Governor-General of Australia

20. Ernie Dingo, Indigenous Australian television personality

21. Mick Dodson, Indigenous Australian leader

22. Pat Dodson, Indigenous Australian activist/leader

23. Peter Doherty, immunologist, professor, Nobel Prize winner

24. Ted Egan, musician, activist, administrator

25. Herb Elliott, Olympic runner

26. John Farnham, entertainer

27. Dawn Fraser, Olympic swimmer, former politician

28. Malcolm Fraser, former Prime Minister of Australia

29. Professor Ian Frazer, scientist

30. Cathy Freeman, Indigenous Australian sportsperson, Olympic runner

31. Margaret Fulton, writer, food expert

32. Peter Garrett, politician, former singer and social activist

33. Jennie George, ACTU trade union leader, politician

34. Evonne Goolagong Cawley, Indigenous Australian tennis player

35. Shane Gould, Olympic swimmer

36. Germaine Greer, writer, social activist

37. Catherine Hamlin, physician

38. Rolf Harris, entertainer

39. John Hatton, independent NSW politician

40. Hazel Hawke, social activist, ex-wife of Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister of Australia

41. Basil Hetzel, medical researcher, public health advocate

42.The Rt Revd Peter Hollingworth, former Governor-General of Australia

43. Gabi Hollows, social activist, philanthropist

44. Janet Holmes à Court, business leader, philanthropist

45. John Howard, politician, former Prime Minister of Australia

46. Robert Hughes, art critic, author

47. Barry Humphries, entertainer

48. Barry Jones, former politician, author, polymath

49. Caroline Jones, television personality, social commentator

50. Paul Keating, former Prime Minister of Australia

51. Thomas Keneally, writer

52. Cheryl Kernot, former politician

53. Nicole Kidman, actress

54. Ian Kiernan, businessman, social activist

55. Justice Michael Kirby, lawyer, judge, social commentator

56. Dame Leonie Kramer, academic, businesswoman

57. Karl Kruszelnicki, scientist, author, media personality

58. John Landy, Olympic athlete, former Governor of Victoria

59. Rod Laver, tennis player, businessman

60. Michael Leunig, cartoonist, social commentator

61. Jimmy Little, Indigenous Australian singer

62. Ted Mack, politician, social commentator

63. David Malouf, novelist

64. Colleen McCullough, author, writer

65. Garry McDonald, actor

66. Walter Mikac, survivors' advocate

67. Kylie Minogue, singer, actress

68. Jack Mundey, trade union leader

69. Graeme Murphy, dancer, choreographer

70. Les A Murray, poet

71. John Newcombe, tennis player, television commentator

72. Olivia Newton-John, singer, actress

73. Greg Norman, golfer, businessman

74. Sir Gustav Nossal, scientist, administrator

75. Lowitja O'Donoghue, Indigenous Australian leader

76. Pat O'Shane, magistrate, Indigenous Australian leader

77. Clive Palmer, industrialist

78. Mary Paton, founder of the Nursing Mothers' Association

79. Noel Pearson, Indigenous Australian leader

80. Kieren Perkins, Olympic swimmer, television commentator

81. Pat Rafter, tennis player

82. Henry Reynolds, historian

83. Ken Rosewall, tennis player

84. Peter Sculthorpe, musician, composer

85. Dick Smith, businessman, social commentator

86. Fiona Stanley, physician

87. Richard Tognetti, violinist and conductor

88. Tom Uren, former politician

89. Anthony Warlow, singer

90. Gai Waterhouse, racehorse trainer

91. Steve Waugh, cricketer

92. Gough Whitlam, former Prime Minister of Australia

93. Margaret Whitlam, social activist, wife of Gough Whitlam

94. Robyn Williams, science broadcaster

95. David Williamson, playwright

96. Tim Winton, novelist

97. Fiona Wood, physician

98. Roger Woodward, pianist

99. John Yu, medical doctor

100. Galarrwuy Yunupingu, Indigenous Australian leader

Now that I’ve browsed the list, I can see it has its controversies. Frankly, I wasn’t even aware that nominations were open earlier this year, but I don’t read Woman’s Day. Is a women’s magazine the best way to get the word out and the votes in? I seriously doubt it.

I’m definitely in the group that is mystified by Clive Palmer’s inclusion in the group, but I think he probably had his personal PR people working on improving his image. Since I started nosing around, I’ve even seen some Aussies actively campaigning via their websites and FaceBook pages for nominations

I’m wondering, is there anyone other than Clive Palmer who shouldn’t be there?

Is there anyone that you think should be an absolute no-brainer inclusion, that isn’t there?

I have a suggestion: Robert James Lee Hawke. Bob Hawke. Former Prime Minister, former ACTU leader, slightly reformed larrikin, Rhodes Scholar. Bizarrely, Mr Hawke’s former wife Hazel is a Living Treasure, but Bob is not. In fact, he’s the only former living PM who isn’t a Living Treasure. That can’t be right, surely?!

What about new inductees Olivia Newton-John and Kylie Minogue. Does it matter than they no longer call Australia home?

I almost wish I hadn’t started looking around for information on these awards. I have so much respect for almost everyone on the list, yet now that I know how it’s done, it seems so damned unimpressive!

Perhaps we could just give everyone a Logie and be done with it.