The 2012 Australia Day Honours were appointments to various orders and honours to recognise and reward good works by Australian citizens. The list was announced on 26 January 2012 by the Governor General of Australia, Quentin Bryce.

The Australia Day Honours are the first of the two major annual honours lists, the first announced to coincide with Australia Day (26 January), with the other being the Queen's Birthday Honours, which are announced on the second Monday in June.

† indicates an award given posthumously.

Order of Australia

Companion (AC) Recipient CitationThe Honourable Justice Virginia Margaret Bell For eminent service to the judiciary and to the law through leadership in criminal law reform and public policy development, to judicial administration, and as an advocate for the economically and socially disadvantaged.Richard Bonynge AO CBE For eminent service to the performing arts as an acclaimed conductor and musical scholar, to opera, and through the collection and preservation of operatic manuscripts.His Excellency the Honourable Alex Chernov AO QC For eminent service to the people of Victoria, to the advancement of higher education, particularly the development of academic and administrative programs at the University of Melbourne, through the establishment of the Australia India Institute, and to the judiciary.His Excellency Malcolm James McCusker AO CVO QC For eminent service to the people of Western Australia, particularly, through the provision of equitable access to legal representation, as an advocate for sustainable development and education, and through significant philanthropic support for a range of medical research, youth and arts organisations.Terence Francis Moran AO For eminent service to the community through public sector leadership, as a significant contributor to policy development, program delivery and effective governance, and to the implementation of contemporary government administration.

Officer (AO)

General Division Recipient CitationMalcolm Bruce Begbie For distinguished service to the international community in the provision of humanitarian relief, particularly through the Crossroads Foundation, and as a significant contributor to UN efforts to connect business organisations with those in need.Susan Linda Begbie For distinguished service to the international community in the provision of humanitarian relief, particularly through the Crossroads Foundation, and as a significant contributor to UN efforts to connect business organisations with those in need.William David Bowtell For distinguished service to public health through the development and implementation of policy and programs supporting HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention, and as a supporter of global debate on communicable diseases and their impact on human and economic development.The Honourable Justice Diana Bryant For distinguished service to the judiciary and to the law, particularly to family law policy reform and practice, through the establishment of the Federal Magistrates' Court, and to the advancement of women in the legal profession.Dr Rosemary Coates For distinguished service to the community in the field of reproductive and sexual health through executive roles with national and international health organisations, and to medical education and research.Dr Ian Darnton-Hill For distinguished service to the international community, particularly in the areas of public health and nutrition, to disease prevention and health promotion, and as a physician, academic and educator.Dr Roderick Ian Eddington For distinguished service to business and commerce through roles with a range of national and international economic, trade, infrastructure development and transport organisations.Dr Robert Lindsay Every For distinguished service to business, particularly through leadership roles in the Australian steel industry, as an advocate for corporate social responsibility, and to the community as a contributor to educational, charitable and cultural organisations.Kerry Hill For distinguished service to architecture, particularly as an ambassador for Australian design in South East Asia, and as an educator and mentor.Caroline Jennifer Hogg For distinguished service to the Parliament of Victoria, particularly in the areas of multiculturalism, health, education, arts and rural affairs, and to mental health through the development of national programs to support youth.Professor the Honourable Michael Hugh Lavarch For distinguished service to the law and legal education, particularly in the areas of native title, human rights and constitutional law, as an educator, through roles with professional organisations, and to the community.The Honourable Robyn Ann Layton QC For distinguished service to the law and to the judiciary, particularly through the Supreme Court of South Australia, as an advocate for Indigenous, refugee and children's rights, and to the community.Emeritus Professor Kwong Chiu Lee Dow AM For distinguished service to education in Australia as an administrator, scholar and contributor to major curriculum reforms, through executive roles with education advisory bodies, and to the community.Professor Stuart Forbes Macintyre For distinguished service to the social sciences and to the humanities as a leading academic in the areas of 19th and 20th century Australian history, particularly through advancing the understanding of social and political life, and as an author, researcher and mentor.Professor Charles Dunlop Mackenzie For distinguished service to veterinary pathology and to medical science through significant contributions to filarial disease eradication in the peoples of Equatorial Africa, and as a researcher and educator.Andrew E. F. Metcalfe For distinguished service to public sector leadership through contributions to Australia's international relations and to major public policy development and program implementation in the areas of immigration, Australian citizenship, cultural diversity and national security, and to the community.Stephen Hibbert Newton For distinguished service to education in the independent schools sector, through executive roles with professional organisations and advisory bodies, and to the development of educational development opportunities with China.Ricky Thomas Ponting For distinguished service to the sport of cricket as a leading player at the national and international level, and to the community through the establishment of the Ponting Foundation.Dr David John Pugsley For distinguished service to renal medicine, particularly the prevention and treatment of kidney disease in global Indigenous populations, to international medical associations, and as a mentor.Fergus Denis Ryan For distinguished service to the business and finance sectors as an executive and adviser, and to the community through philanthropic contributions to cultural, social welfare and educational organisations.Dr David James Skellern For distinguished service to science and engineering as a leading researcher, and to the design and development of world-leading information technology communications applications.The Reverend Father William James Uren For distinguished service to education as a philosopher and bioethicist, as a commentator on contemporary issues in Australian society, as a scholar and mentor, and to the Catholic Church in Australia.

Military Division Branch Recipient CitationArmy Major General Timothy Joseph McOwan DSC CSM For distinguished service to the Australian Army in the fields of operations and Special Forces, particularly as Special Operations Commander Australia.Lieutenant General Brian Ashley Power AM CSC For distinguished service as Commander of the 1st Division, Commander Training Command – Army and head Military Strategic Commitments.Major General Michael David Slater DSC AM CSC For distinguished service as head of the Defence Personnel Executive, Commander 1st Division and head of the Queensland Flood Recovery Task Force.Air Force Air Marshal Geoffrey Charles Brown AM For distinguished service to the Royal Australian Air Force in senior command and staff appointments.

Member (AM)

General Division