Barnett stated he "choked on his Weet-Bix" as he read details of the plan in the newspaper, describing it as "an act of treachery". Many other Liberal MPs had also not heard of the plan before the story. Despite this, Court won the ballot 17–13 against Barnett during a four-hour party-room meeting, with Dan Sullivan being elected as his deputy. By 23 February, the plan had to be scrapped when Bishop, who had never formally committed to the plan, rejected it. Court was now in an untenable position, and was forced to retire from politics the next day, with Barnett taking the leadership in the ensuing party room ballot in which he defeated Rod Sweetman. Court had disputes with the Keating Government over Mabo. Post-political life On 9 June 2003, Richard Court was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). The award cited "[his] service to the Western Australian Parliament and to the community, particularly the Indigenous community, and in the areas of child health research and cultural heritage and to economic development through negotiating major resource projects including the export of gas to China furthering the interests of the nation as a whole." In November 2016, Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop announced that Court would be appointed as Australian Ambassador to Japan in "early 2017". On 11 April 2017, he presented credentials to Emperor Akihito at Imperial Palace in Tokyo. See also Court–Cowan Ministry References 1947 births Living people Premiers of Western Australia Members of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Western Australia Ambassadors of Australia to Japan Companions of the Order of Australia People educated at Hale School Delegates to the Australian Constitutional Convention 1998 20th-century Australian politicians Leaders of the Opposition in Western Australia Treasurers of Western Australia 21st-century Australian politicians Australian people of English descent University of Western Australia alumni Australian monarchists