[2] It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of then prime minister Gough Whitlam.

The badge of the Order of Australia is a convex disc (gold for AKs, ADs and ACs, gilt for AOs, AMs and OAMs) representing a single flower of mimosa.

[9] The council consists of 19 members: seven selected by the prime minister (described as "community representatives"), eight appointed by the governments of each respective state and territory, and three ex officio members (the chief of the Defence Force, the vice-president of the Federal Executive Council and a public servant responsible for honours policy).

According to the governor general's then-secretary Sir David Smith, Whitlam was furious when he first saw Devlin's design for the insignia of the order, due to the inclusion of a representation of the states (with whom Whitlam's government was constantly in dispute) through the state badges within the Commonwealth Coat of Arms.

The new government decided to once again make recommendations for imperial awards, whilst maintaining and expanding the Order of Australia.

Following the 1983 federal election, Labor Prime Minister Bob Hawke recommitted to the end of recommendations for imperial awards.

[7][33] Five awards of knight and dame were then made, to the outgoing governor-general, Quentin Bryce; her successor, Peter Cosgrove; a recent chief of the Defence Force, Angus Houston; a recent governor of New South Wales, Marie Bashir; and Prince Philip.

Leader of the opposition Bill Shorten stated in March 2014 that the party would again discontinue the level if it were to win the next Australian federal election.

[37] The knighthood decision was a significant factor that caused Liberal party members to question Abbott's leadership,[38][39] with Malcolm Turnbull succeeding in a challenge to take the prime ministership in September 2015.

Two months after coming into office, the new republican prime minister announced that the Queen had approved his request to amend the Order's letters patent and cease awards at this level.

[46] King Charles III, when he was Prince of Wales, was appointed a Knight of the Order of Australia (AK) on 14 March 1981.

To overcome this issue, his appointment was created by an amendment to the constitution of the Order of Australia by special letters patent signed by the Queen, on the recommendation of Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser.

[47] In March 2014 the knight and dame levels, which had been abolished in 1986 by Prime Minister Bob Hawke, were reintroduced to the Order of Australia by Tony Abbott.

In accordance with the statutes of 2014, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, was created a Knight of the Order by letters patent signed by the Queen on 7 January 2015, on Abbott's advice.

[48] Prince Philip's knighthood was announced as part of the Australia Day Honours on 26 January 2015 and his appointment attracted criticism of what Abbott described as his "captain's call".

[53][55] In December 2010, The Age reported a study of the educational backgrounds of all people who had received Knight/Dame and Companion level awards at that time.

It reported: "An analysis of the 435 people who have received the nation's top Order of Australia honours since they were first awarded in 1975, shows they disproportionately attended a handful of elite Victorian secondary schools.

[56][note 4] On 26 January 1980 the Order of Australia Association was created as an incorporated body with membership open to award recipients.

[57][59] It also supports the "community and social activities" of members and promotes and encourages the nomination of other Australians to the Order.

[60] The Order also runs a foundation that provides scholarships to tertiary students that show potential as future leaders and are involved in community activities.

[65] During the 1996 season of the popular television programme Home and Away, the character Pippa Ross was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for her years of service as a foster carer.