Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has started pulling away from Tony Abbott's shadows by taking out the knights and dames from the Order of Australia. According to the official, labels and titles are "anachronistic and out of date."

According to the prime minister's announcement, knights and dames are unsuitable in relation to the Australian honours system. This serves as grounds for scraping off the labels and titles. Turnbull further said that Queen Elizabeth II already agreed to the removal of the titles as per the government's recommendations.

“Awards in the Order of Australia are an important way of honouring the achievements and service of many Australians, including those unsung heroes who might not otherwise be recognised outside their local communities,” Australia's leader said in a statement released Monday.

Many see this move as Turnbull's way of moving away from Tony Abbott's regime. The previous prime minister reintroduced knighthoods and damehoods last March 2014. Abbott came under scrutiny for the decision as people from his political party too considered the move anachronistic. Consequently, Abbott awarded Prince Philip knighthood during Australia Day 2015.

“The cabinet recently considered the Order of Australia, in this its 40th anniversary year, and agreed that knights and dames are not appropriate in our modern honours system,” Turnbull further said in the statement.

“This change will not affect existing knights and dames of the order.” Prior to the decision, Turnbull said he consulted colleagues on the matter. Republicans also believe that the prime minister's decision to remove knights and dames is an indication of future moves to pull away from the monarchy.

Peter FitzSimons, the chairman of the Australian Republican Movement (ARM), told The World Today (via ABC News) that Turnbull’s move would be be the first of more decisions to come. Monarchists see it as part of Turnbull's strong opinions on a republic. According to Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy convenor David Flint, Turnbull will push for a politician’s republic on the country when the timing is right.

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