Deborah O'Neill (NSW, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I want to associate myself with the remarks of all those who have preceded me in this discussion of the condolence motion. I rise, particularly proud, as a senator for New South Wales, in having served alongside Senator Jim Molan. I can certainly say that he found himself in many situations of conflict and challenge, and even in these latter years here as a servant of democracy, that pattern of conflict and challenge was part of his life on his way into and his retention in the Senate. Not for a moment did he ever resile from that conflict. In fact, I think he had the character to embrace it and to understand very, very deeply what service of your nation means and that that service can happen in many different contexts.

Indeed it's a sad day, but I am honoured to rise to acknowledge the great life and works of Senator Jim Molan, AO, DSC, a former major-general in the proud Australian Army. I want to take this sad opportunity to pay tribute to him and his lifetime of service to the country—and particularly his service in the cause of democracy, which was operational in the very different parts of his life. And also his care and affection for his family, who are here today. Not everybody reveals that in this place, but it was absolutely a characteristic of Senator Molan. I think it's an indication of incredible strength and a sense of how proudly he served the nation, with your grace and through and for you as a family. I want to honour your sacrifice in enabling that, because he certainly was supported by you in his time here.

Many have spoken about Jim's life. He invested everything of his energy in every day, and I think it bears some repetition on this occasion. Born in that august year, 1951, following his upbringing in Victoria he joined the Australian Army in 1971—a very different time to that of today where young men and women are joining Duntroon and beginning their careers. He served for 40 years in our armed services, including as Chief of Operations in Iraq, where he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, as well as the Legion of Merit by the United States government. His service also took him to postings in Asia, about which he gained incredible cultural and significant practical knowledge that he used then to inform his interactions in this place. Time was spent in Timor, in Jakarta, in Papua New Guinea and with the Australian Defence College. He left the army with a final rank of major-general.

I didn't know Jim in any of those roles. I only met him when he arrived here in the Senate in 2017. It was a time of tumult, when the parliament was roiled by the eligibility crisis. Immediately Jim arrived perhaps in the way only somebody who had served with his level of distinction in the armed services could. He certainly made his mark very promptly upon arrival. His tenacity and his own prodigious resume ensured that, despite many political setbacks that for others would have led to their retreat, Senator Molan continued his advance in the service of democracy, and he was returned to this place by the voters of New South Wales in 2022.

Senator Jim Molan should have spent the next six years, richly deserved, quietly making his valuable impact on policymaking for our nation. I know that he would have enjoyed, in between that contribution to the nation, great continuing relationships and time with his family. We will miss him, but they will miss him so much more.

I enjoyed Jim's insights and our many discussions after attending the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade. I was always intrigued by his line of questioning, and, as somebody who is outside the military, I think he was a little intrigued by some of my questioning as well. That led to great conversations. Jim was very generous with his insights, and he was very frank and open in his assessments.

Jim was very compassionate and deeply, personally involved in the stillbirth inquiry. As the comments today give testament to, he is remembered very fondly and very well by the colleagues who worked with him on that particular inquiry. I note the comments of Senator Bilyk, who was on that inquiry with him.

Apart from his insightful and deeply knowledgeable contributions regarding national security and defence policy, Jim was just a man who had a sense of how policy can impact family and impact on the people that he'd served with. I think he took that with great care and concern as he gave each issue its due consideration.

Jim's leadership, his stalwart patriotism and his affability were a credit to the chamber and the nation. In fact, one evening—just as a mark of the man—I remember at the end of a long sitting of estimates, which sees senators wandering the corridors a little exhausted after 11 pm. Jim had returned from having surgery on his hip and, as he was walking along the corridor I spoke to him and said, 'You look like you're recovering really, really well from your operation.' His equanimity in response—his sense of determination just to get on with the recovery and continue with his job—revealed his unflappability. I recall that conversation quite fondly, because it was a bit of a joke and a bit of a laugh at the end of a very long day. As Senator Bilyk indicated, I never for one moment saw self-pity as Jim tackled the health challenges that confronted him, and the quality of his contributions over that period of time never diminished. These things are not only, as I said, a testament to his character but also something that I'm sure the family will be very, very proud of. I'm sure his great tradition and education about how to be a great citizen will continue in the rest of the family as you continue his legacy.

I pass my deepest condolences on to Jim's wife, Anne, and to your and Jim's four children and five grandchildren. I pray, and indeed I know, that his memory is a blessing and that his lifetime of service to this great nation and this parliament has left a resounding legacy of which you can be rightly proud. Vale, Jim Molan.