Perth poised to purge itself of Harris

Rolf Harris' likeness, works and achievements look set to be expunged from his hometown of Perth and the veteran entertainer could be stripped of a lifetime of honours after being convicted of indecent assault.

Plaques to the "boy from Bassendean" are expected to be removed from the Perth CBD and Bassendean, his paintings and books taken out of schools and Edith Cowan University may rescind an honorary doctorate.

Harris yesterday became the first person to be removed from the Australian Recording Industry Association's Hall of Fame and will be stripped of his British Academy of Film and Television Arts Fellowship.

The fate of Harris' Order of Australia, Centenary Medal and Order of the British Empire honours will be decided by the Governor-General and the Queen but the seriousness of his crimes has fuelled speculation he could lose the accolades.

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A Government House spokesman declined to comment on Harris' AO but said the Council for the Order of Australia investigated matters brought to its attention and made recommendations to the Governor-General.

Stripping Harris of his Centenary Medal of Australia would require a recommendation from the Prime Minister.

Bassendean council, which has already removed a photograph of Harris from display at a childcare centre, will vote whether to withdraw his status as freeman of the town, remove his paintings and dig up a plaque close to the site of his childhood home. City of Perth will vote on removing a commemorative St Georges Terrace plaque at a meeting on July 15.

Bassendean mayor John Gangell and Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi support removing the plaques.

Paintings by Harris have been removed from ECU and those at Perth Modern School in Subiaco, which he attended, will be removed within days.

ECU vice-chancellor Kerry Cox said it was important the university's values were reflected in the values of its award recipients.