Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

Senator McCain, welcome back to Australia. It is such an honour to have you here on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Senator McCain has led a life of leadership, of public service and of selfless courage. As a prisoner of war for 5½ years, he selflessly, despite torture and cruelty, refused to be transferred back to the United States in advance of his colleagues—true leadership; true grit; true courage.

And then he has gone on to serve the people of the United States in the Congress and the Senate, where he is now chair of the Armed Services Committee. He has run for President of the United States. And can I say that, here in this House, we can acknowledge Senator McCain as one of the strongest voices—none stronger—in the United States today for the Australian-American alliance. He has embodied it. His grandfather, John McCain, as a sailor in the US Navy, visited Australia in 1908, in the Great White Fleet which visited at the request of Prime Minister Alfred Deakin. His father served in the US Navy, as his grandfather had done and as he has done, and served for part of the Second World War in Perth.

Of course, as Senator McCain has done throughout his life, he has spoken of the importance, of the bedrock, of the Australia-US alliance. He said earlier this year:

… Australia is one of America’s oldest friends and staunchest allies. We are united by ties of family and friendship, mutual interests and common values, and shared sacrifice in wartime.

Today the brave men and women of the Australian Defence Force and the United States defence forces once again, as they always have and always will, are serving shoulder to shoulder in freedom's cause to defeat terrorism and keep us safe at home and abroad.

I conclude this welcome by noting a fact perhaps not so well-known to honourable members—the senator shares one of our great national passions, rugby football, and I understand he is looking forward to the United States reclaiming its status as rugby world champions. The United States won the gold medal for rugby union at the 1924 Paris Olympics and remained reigning champions until rugby was played again in Rio last year. Senator McCain, you are among friends, you are a great friend of Australia—welcome to our house of democracy here in Canberra.

Honourable members: Hear, hear!

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