Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the government to express our condolences following the passing of our colleague, Senator Andrew James Molan, AO DSC, better known to us all as Senator Jim Molan. He passed away on 16 January 2023 at the age of 72.

I convey at the outset the government's condolences and my personal sympathy to Jim's family and friends. I particularly acknowledge the members of his family who are here today, including his wife, Anne, and daughters Erin and Felicity, and many others. I also express my personal sympathy to my colleagues across the chamber on your loss. It is a sad circumstance that this is the third of our number we have eulogised in just 18 months.

Senator Jim Molan lived a life of public service. He was called to serve, he chose to serve, and he did so with distinction. Jim Molan entered the Senate following a substantial career in the military that saw him attain the rank of Major General. He quite easily could have enjoyed life at a slower pace following retirement from the Australian Army. He instead took up duty once more, as a determined advocate for the people of New South Wales. His time as a parliamentarian was distinguished by his vigorous contribution to the national security debate, which will outlast his time in this place.

But his work extended well beyond national security issues. Jim Molan was a person who placed high importance on personal character and integrity, no more so than in his own conduct. Prime Minister Albanese described him as a man of principle and a politician of conviction—someone who engaged across political divides courteously and generously. That capacity to engage in that way with people from all walks of life is fondly remembered by so many. He leaves a legacy of professionalism, of dedication and of service.

Born in Melbourne, Jim Molan had only one career in mind, and he went straight to it as soon as he could. He graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1971 after entering at the age of 18. Between the beginning and the end of his military career, his distinguished service includes deployments to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, Malaysia, Germany, the US and Iraq. Indeed, he was deployed to serve at many important junctures in our history. He was in Papua New Guinea as it turned the corner to independence, a watershed moment in the life of two nations with the end of Australian colonialism and the Papua New Guinean people achieving self-government.

Posted to Jakarta on multiple occasions in the 1990s, he was in Indonesia then Timor-Leste through the fall of President Suharto, the Asian financial crisis and Timorese independence. Occasionally he would address me in Bahasa Indonesia, a legacy of this time. 'Selamat pagi ibu,' he would say. For those who speak Indonesian, you would know that is a very respectful manner of address. He also served as Commander of the Australian Defence College, amongst other roles. In Iraq he served for a year as the chief of operations of coalition forces. He was responsible for overseeing some 300,000 personnel, more than any Australian since World War II. It was a difficult and dangerous deployment, including the 2005 election, during which time coalition and Iraqi security forces were attacked hundreds of times. His military service was appropriately recognised through the award of the Distinguished Service Cross by the Australian government and the Legion of Merit by the United States government. The citation for the Distinguished Service Cross, awarded in 2006, states it was awarded:

For distinguished service in command and leadership in action while serving as Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Operations and Deputy Chief of Staff Civil Military Operations with Multi-National Force—Iraq from April 2004 to April 2005, during Operation CATALYST.

He was also twice recognised in the military division of the Order of Australia, including for his service as the head of the Australian Defence Force staff in Jakarta during the Indonesian and East Timor crisis.

Following the conclusion of his military career, Jim Molan remained active as a public commentator on matters of defence and security. Living on a property not far from Canberra, his active involvement in the local fire service would soon extend beyond his own brigade. In combination with his experience flying helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, his tactical and crises management expertise led to a role as director of the National Aerial Firefighting Centre. He also worked as a consultant and in public policy, and became actively involved in politics as a result of this. As Senator Birmingham said, he played a significant role in shaping coalition policy before and after the 2013 election.

Having unsuccessfully stood for the election to the Senate in 2016, Senator Jim Molan first entered this place in 2017. He was unsuccessful in the 2019 election, notwithstanding a personal campaign for people to vote for him below the line, which yielded nearly three per cent of the statewide total. However, later that year he became a senator once more when he was chosen by the New South Wales parliament to fill a casual vacancy, created following the resignation of Arthur Sinodinos, to become our ambassador in the United States, and he was subsequently returned at the 2022 election.

Senator Jim Molan used his platform to reflect upon and advocate for Australian military and security policy. He was deeply concerned about strategic impact and capability, and consistently advocated for an integrated national security strategy. He advocated for this publicly, to his colleagues within the coalition, I'm sure, and to all of us in the parliament throughout his time in parliament. He also wanted Australian governments to be more open in talking about strategic risk. He asked questions in estimates hearings, and most recently I was the recipient of them, as we sat on opposite sides of the table for the first time.

While Senator Molan's committee work covered the breadth of national security issues, his work extended well beyond those. I would like to make mention of a Senate committee that examined a topic of particular significance in the lives of many Australians—including in this chamber—and him personally. These were the Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education and the Senate Select Committee on Autism. As Deputy Chair of the Senate Select Committee on Stillbirth Research and Education, Senator Molan contributed alongside senators McCarthy, Gichuhi, Keneally, Rice and Bilyk to this historic and important inquiry. Labor senators, including former Senator Keneally, conveyed to me how highly they rated Senator Molan's contribution. He brought a combination of compassion and personal experience to this difficult and emotional topic. When the report was tabled in the Senate in 2018, Senator Molan spoke of his experience and that of his family. I was so deeply moved by his words that day, as were so many others.

His collegiate parliamentary engagement on sensitive issues, whether personal issues or security issues, spoke to Jim Molan's character. During his time in this place, and prior to his arrival, Senator Molan articulated certain policy positions I do not share. We also did share common policy positions and we were able to find common ground.

Senator Jim Molan was a man whom I respected. He treated issues of defence, national security and foreign affairs with the maturity they deserve. I honour his deep convictions forged in his lifetime of service. During our parliamentary exchanges, as recently as the recent budget estimates hearings, we were able to engage in dialogue respectfully and without rancour. One of the things that makes our country strongest is our ability to look to the national interest and engage constructively, without acrimony or animosity.

As Senator Molan's family said, he was many things: a soldier, a pilot, an author, a volunteer firefighter and a senator. These roles, and the many others Jim Molan took on in his lifetime, speak to his ability, his capacity and his enthusiasm. Even through his illness, Senator Molan continued to be a strong advocate for Australia's defence and national security and a dedicated servant of the people of New South Wales in this parliament.

Senator Birmingham spoke in his contribution about the importance of living life with gratitude. It is true that, in gratitude, we find a way to contentment, to peace and to wisdom. Australia owes a debt of gratitude to Jim Molan for his dedicated service to our country in our defence force, through public policy and in our parliament.

But, of course, he was much more than this. Senator Molan was a husband, a father, a grandfather a brother, a friend and a colleague. He often spoke of his love for his family. His devotion was clear to all who knew him. So I close by expressing again my personal sympathies and the sympathies of the government to his wife, Anne, their four children, their grandchildren and other members of his family, as well as Jim's loyal staff, friends, colleagues and all he served with. I salute Jim Molan.