A bottle of wine, a rebel MP and an electoral battering brought down the three Liberal premiers headlining the list of ex-politicians being honoured on Australia Day.
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Former NSW premier Barry O'Farrell was forced to resign after admitting he misled the corruption watchdog over a $3000 bottle of Grange Hermitage.
Ted Baillieu, Victoria's leader from 2010 to 2013, shocked the state with a late-night resignation triggered in part by controversial MP Geoff Shaw quitting the Liberal government and sitting as an independent.
After two terms as Brisbane lord mayor, Campbell Newman charged into the Queensland premier's office and state parliament in 2012 in an unprecedented landslide victory.
But he was turfed out three years later after losing his seat as the state swung wildly against his LNP government.
All three men have been appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) on Australia Day.
Mr Newman said it was a recognition of his family's support and the team of political staff around him at state parliament and city hall.
He conceded the pace of change, which included a controversial mass sacking of public servants, ultimately cost the LNP power in Queensland.
"My regret is that we didn't get the politics right," the former premier told AAP.
"My takeaway from it is the community will respond to argument for reform - perhaps just not as quickly as we were seeking to undertake."
Mr Newman said his government's apology to the victims of forced adoption was among his proudest moments as premier.
He also pointed to local health boards and making it easier for Aboriginal people to buy homes in their own communities as major wins.
Former Howard government minister Amanda Vanstone has also been appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia for distinguished service to parliament, along with ex-Labor national secretary George Wright.
Former federal politicians Rod Kemp and Mary Crawford have been appointed Member of the Order of Australia (AM), along with state representatives Meredith Burgmann and Fred Riebeling.
Ex-state and territory politicians awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) include Marie Ficarra, Sherryl Garbutt, Vaughan Johnson, Anne McEwen, Roger Steele, Murray Thompson and Michael Choi.
Australian Associated Press
