Scott Buchholz (Wright, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

It gives me an enormous sense of pride to be able to get to my feet and make a heartfelt contribution on the Hon. John Moore. I rise to acknowledge not only his contribution in the House but also his contribution as a businessman and his contribution to our party, because his contributions, at his passing, are worthy of accolade and they're worthy of being noted.

John, much like myself, was actually born in Rockhampton. He served as the federal member for Ryan in the House of Representatives for no less than 25 years. Now, just consider that—serving between the years 1975 and 2001. That is a colossal innings: 25 years of public service, giving to your community. My other half is a schoolteacher, and she said, 'I wonder how many schoolteachers there would be in Queensland if, every three years, schoolteachers' jobs were reliant on votes from students and principals or other teachers.' So, when you're in public office, having that affirmation over and over and over again from the people you represent is evidence of your character and evidence of the way that your public perceive you and the contributions you've made for them and how you represented their interests. It shows how John made his community feel special and welcome in the seat of Ryan.

In addition to his incredibly long service, he also served as a minister in the Fraser and Howard governments. There are people that will serve in this place for many years and will not reach the dizzy heights of cabinet ministers. This guy, an amazing Australian, was fortunate enough to serve in a number of governments.

John Moore was a Queenslander through and through. As I said, he was born in Rockhampton—by coincidence, my very birth town. He was raised on a cattle station just west of Bowen, and he understood the values of hard work and perseverance from a very early age. He went to the University of Queensland in Brisbane, where he honed his skills in commerce and accounting. These early experiences would lay out the foundation of a successful career in business and later in public service.

Before entering politics, John excelled in the world of finance, growing his stockbroking firm to one of Queensland's largest single-trader businesses. How can a boy from Rockhampton who grew up on a cattle station in Brisbane grow a stockbroking firm to one of Queensland's largest? The Hon. John Moore's business acumen was equally as honed as his character and his sense of likeability. You've got to remember that in Central Queensland, where he spent most of his time, the largest contributor to GDP is agriculture, with large landholdings of cattle and cane. Whilst not every year may have been profitable, John's tentacles reached right through the entire state for when those good years were on to help other businesses invest their money wisely so that their future generations would prosper and in the dry times be able to draw down dividends to keep their family farm and business operations going.

His connections on the international stage are something I'll add as well. He had a keen financial acumen. It saw him serve on the board of major Australian and international companies, earning him a reputation as a sharp and principled man. You can be a great businessman, but, if you are not principled and your customers feel like they're not getting the very best possible deal, they will not return. To the family and the friends of John Moore, I can assure you that one of the reasons he was successful in business is that his customers returned to him. They returned to him because they trusted him, and so did the electorate of Ryan. But, despite his successes in the private sector, John felt a deeper calling: a commitment to serve his country and to contribute to the nation's future.

In 1975, he embarked on a new journey, winning the federal seat of Ryan for the Liberal Party. Over the next 25 years, he dedicated himself to the people of Australia, serving with distinction in both the Fraser and Howard governments, as I mentioned earlier in my opening comments. His leadership was evident across a range of portfolios, from Business and Consumer Affairs to Industry, Science and Tourism and ultimately the most senior portfolio in the protection of our nation, the Defence portfolio. John's tenure as the Minister for Defence was particularly significant because it was under his stewardship that Australia played a crucial role in the East Timor peacekeeping mission. He championed the defence white paper of 2000, a landmark policy that reshaped Australia's military strategy for the next century—such a worthy contributor to our defence package. His commitment to strengthening our nation's defence and ensuring the operational effectiveness of the Australian Defence Force will be remembered as one of the most enduring legacies.

Beyond politics, John was a man of great personal warmth and character. He was a devoted family man, a mentor to many and a leader who inspired those around him with his vision and pragmatism. With the warmth and the vision that he had and the mentoring that he gave to those around him, I wonder what John Moore would say if he were here to hear the contributions made in the House today by the Prime Minister and the opposition leader about his contribution, how humbled he would have been to hear it and what his response to that would have been. John was truly a humble man.

In 2004, his contributions were recognised when he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, an honour well deserved for a lifetime of service. It is such an honourable title to be given. It's one that's very rarely handed out to politicians whilst in office, but because of his lifetime commitment to business, which dovetailed into his professional career, the honours list committee would make the easiest decision they would have had to make in those assessments when looking at his character and contribution to our nation.

John Moore was more than a politician; he was a statesman. He was a trailblazer and a very, very proud Australian. While we mourn for his loss, we also thank him for his incredible contribution to our nation. His legacy will live on in the policies he shaped, the lives he influenced and the examples he set for all who seek to serve their country, whether through this House, the business sector or our honourable Australian Defence Force personnel.

To his family, friends and colleagues, we extend our deepest sympathies. May you find comfort in knowing that John's impact will never be forgotten. As some of the contributions that we make are etched into sandstone and, over time, the winds of change will erode them, I share with you that John's contribution has been etched into granite. It will stand the testament of time. May he rest in eternal peace, knowing he gave his all for the country that he loved so deeply. Rest in peace, the Hon. John Moore.

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