The Queen's Birthday Honours List in full
He said his government left a long-term legacy with environmental projects such as the Otway National Park, along Victoria's Great Ocean Road, and marine national parks protecting aquatic life.
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"They will be long-term significant changes that will make a difference," he said.
There were many milestones in Bracks' eight years as Victorian premier but he says parliamentary reforms and the extension of national and marine parks stand out for him.
Mr Bracks ended the two-term reign of members of the upper house, forcing them to go to the people every election, and introduced the four-year fixed term.
"I'm very proud of that change - it brought more democracy to the Legislative Council after almost 100 years," he said.
He said the introduction of fixed terms was important and would be of great benefit if introduced federally.
"It would be a much better system publicly and democratically and for investment and business," he said.
Another area in which he made a lasting impact was decentralising business activity, such as moving the TAC to Geelong, the State Revenue Office to Ballarat and the Rural Finance Corporation to Bendigo.
"The aim always was to increase population and reduce unemployment in the regions," he said.
Life after politics remains busy for Mr Bracks, who has taken on roles such as adviser to East Timor Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, honorary chair of the Deakin Foundation at Deakin University, adviser to the National Australia Bank and accounting group KPMG, as well as a board member on global insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson.
"I have got a busy working life now, nationally and internationally, but the difference is I have nights off if I choose to.
"As premier I would be on call seven days a week, 52 weeks of the year," he said.
