Phillip Thompson (Herbert, Liberal National Party, Shadow Assistant Minister for Defence) Share this | Hansard source

A senator, a military officer, a mate, a family man, a patriot, a good Australian—that's who Jim Molan is. The tragic loss is something that was felt around this nation, by people who had served underneath him, people who'd worked alongside him in parliament, and, of course, his family. I reached out and spoke to a few of the members of his family at his funeral recently, and I told them that Jim, despite our age difference, was someone that I called a mate. Every anniversary of when I was wounded in Afghanistan, he would text or call, and say, 'How're you going, mate?' We would talk about veterans issues; we'd talk about defence; we'd talk about Australia, politics. The first thing out of every conversation when he would call would be, 'How's your girls?' checking in on my two daughters, Astin and Emery, and, of course, my wife. He was someone that cared, someone that understood that people would have differing opinions, and he understood his purpose in life, which was service.

He served with distinction through his military career, being awarded the Officer of the Order of Australia and a Distinguished Service Cross. He served well here in the Senate, not just taking up an argument or a fight but prosecuting our beliefs, our values, our thoughts. He was someone that had great concern for political direction in a very unique and challenging time around the world. He understood strategy, but he understood the operations. He was someone that didn't just think about what would happen if we needed to deploy troops; he would think about the strategy for it and what would happen during and after.

We've seen him lead with the US in Iraq. We've seen him be appointed as the envoy on Operation Sovereign Borders, which he helped design and then implement. And, in this place, he's written two books that outlay the serious concerns that he has, and that many of us have, and he also contributed to many committees. If you were in a defence or veterans committee and you needed to look for guidance or needed to look for someone that understood the leadership space but also understood what happens post service, you could look to Jim, and he would help you.

He cared so much for this country, and the only thing he cared more about than his country was his family. He loved his family. They know that. The way that he would speak about his children, his grandchildren and his wife made you feel warm, because he was pure. He didn't need to embellish anything; he didn't need to lie about anything. The only thing he didn't tell all of us was how unwell he was. But he would tell you that family is a great pillar of our society, and spending time with your family and the ones you love is so important. And, on the other hand, he would talk about the dangers around the world and the strategic direction we are in that may need to change to combat future threats.

He was such a great man, and I've called him, with the time difference, late at night, and he'd answer. Then we'd get into an hour-long conversation about something that probably would never eventuate, but it was something that I would like to talk about, and he was there to listen, provide advice, guidance and also a nice, calming hand, sometimes, when I would want to fly to Canberra and wring everyone's necks on some poor decision that was being made. He was a calming voice on that.

The soldiers that have served underneath him and served with him speak so highly of him. We've all heard stories about the private soldier not necessarily liking the commanding officer. I've been there. But the private soldier that served underneath him when CO 6 RAR said: 'Jim was the man. He was the guy I could turn to that would give fearless and frank advice and mentor us into what we needed to do in our future development and then future operations.' Other officers said that he was a leader, a natural leader, and someone that cared so greatly for his men and women that served underneath him. I've heard that throughout the country. But I think that one of Jim's greatest contributions to this parliament was in the last one, when he called me up and we were talking about the royal commission into veteran suicide. He said, 'I am a supporter, I know that we need to call it.' He knew and spoke with many family members who had lost their loved ones because of suicide. I think it kept him up at night knowing that there were soldiers, sailors and aviators out there that were dying by suicide.

Jim was always a good friend and a great mentor and he's a person that this parliament and the Senate will greatly miss. I offer my love and heartfelt condolences to his family, and may Jim rest in peace.

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