Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to support the fine words of the Prime Minister. It is absolutely right that this parliament should remember Hazel Hawke, who was an adornment to our national life. She was a person of great dignity, of fundamental decency and of total unselfishness.

MPs' spouses, if I may say so, are the conscripts of public life. They are stuck in it whether they like it or not. Hazel won universal plaudits for her handling of the ups and downs of being Mrs Bob Hawke. The public loved her, especially for her courage in facing up to Alzheimer's. Many MPs' spouses identified with her and drew inspiration from her. As Bob Hawke said: she was both a mother and father to their children because of his long absences from home.

She was a woman of extraordinary dignity, a woman of great capacity, a woman who will be much missed. On behalf of the coalition I extend our most profound condolences to the Hawke family.

Question agreed to, honourable members standing in their places.

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