Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Hansard source

Whilst, yes, it is an absolute privilege to be able to stand here tonight to celebrate the illustrious career of our dear friend and colleague Marise Payne, I have to say right from the start that for me it is tinged with sadness. When you come to this place as a new senator it's interesting because you think that you'll make certain friends and they'll be your friends right throughout your career—and you certainly do that—but you also forge lifelong friendships with people that perhaps you never thought you would. I think certainly for Marise and me that has been the case.

Like Sarah Hanson-Young, I was warned about Marise before I came here. All I can say is that I was just bloody scared—'God Almighty, help me. It's Marise Payne. Oh my gosh.' I soon learnt very quickly that Marise is an incredibly deep person and an incredibly private person. I think that sometimes over the years did upset members of the press gallery. I hope many of them have actually listened to in particular Marise's valedictory tonight but also the contribution made by our leader, Senator Birmingham, because through those contributions I think Australians have learnt that little bit more about the exact value of the 26 years that Marise Payne has spent in this place.

Marise, so while, yes, we started out as colleagues, I have to say—and not a lot of people know this—that, like Bridget and you, we have become incredibly good friends. There is no doubt—and again I listened to both you and Simon tonight—that you have been a truly exceptional servant of the Australian people. Your unwavering commitment to Australia has left an indelible mark on our nation. I have to say that 26 years in any political life—in fact, 20 years in political life—is astounding. Most people celebrate 10 years in political life, but you've spent 26 years in the Australian Senate.

I was thinking of words that would define those 26 years as that comes to a close. Those words have been reflected in the contributions that we have heard tonight: dedication—and I'll have a little bit more to say about that when I address your time as our foreign minister—leadership, and there are no two ways about that; and significant contributions to both domestic and international affairs. You have maintained without a doubt a steadfast dedication to our nation and, as I said, you have—and sometimes it takes a little bit of time for people to understand this, and it often happens when you actually end your time in politics—had a profound impact on our political landscape.

Serving as a senator for New South Wales since 1997—how proud that you are now the longest-serving woman in the Senate in Australia's history. That is absolutely incredible. At any one time there are only 76 of us, who, as you said, have the privilege to walk into this place and are allowed to walk onto the floor of this chamber as senators. And you are the longest-serving female senator. That is, quite frankly, truly remarkable. I know Senator Birmingham has said that it may well one day be surpassed, but I have to say that with 26 years it is honestly going to take some time.

You have always demonstrated—and certainly I saw it when you were supporting Stuart, particularly when he was the member for Penrith—a deep-seated commitment to the people you represent. I think one of the most outstanding aspects of your career has been the impressive portfolio list. It did not matter what portfolio you were holding, you always displayed outstanding leadership—and I had the privilege of sitting round the cabinet table and on the national security committee of cabinet with you—and unwavering dedication.

You were the Minister for Human Services and the Minister for Defence. I have to say, colleagues, that when Marise was the Minister for Defence, she had to be not in two places at one time but in two countries at one time! That often can cause a few issues, but she came to me and said, 'Michaelia, would you do me the privilege of representing me at a number of high-level defence meetings in Washington?' I said that it would be a privilege and an honour, and indeed it was. When I arrived in Washington and commenced a number of meetings on your behalf, Marise, with the administration and with members of the defense force, what struck me was that they went out of their way to tell me just how much they respected you. They told me how much they appreciated the way in which you worked with them and also your commitment to the relationship between the United States of America and Australia. They didn't have to say that to me, but they went out of their way to do so.

You were the Minister for Foreign Affairs. One thing most Australians will never know about the Minister for Foreign Affairs is that you never ask them, 'Did you get any sleep last night?' You certainly don't say to them, at 11 pm or midnight, when you're exiting this building, 'I hope you're going home to get some sleep.' That's because, without a doubt, the answer from Marise, when I would leave at some very strange hours, as so many cabinet ministers do, would be, 'I've got a 2 am phone call with the president'—or the minister, of whatever. People often just don't know what a minister does, in particular the Minister for Foreign Affairs. I have to say, perhaps one of my proudest moments in this place working with you—and you will remember this—was when we stood together as the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Attorney-General of this country on 14 March 2022. We made the announcement, after collaborating, that Australia, in conjunction with our counterparts in the Netherlands, had initiated legal proceedings against the Russian Federation in the International Civil Aviation Organisation for the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17 in 2014. I will never forget the work that you did behind the scenes to ensure that we were in a position where, as a country joining with the Netherlands, we were able to make that announcement, take that step and ultimately hold the Russian Federation to account.

Your role in establishing the historic AUKUS partnership—and I'm sure Senator Reynolds will speak more about that—was again so much. In fact, 99 per cent of that had to be done behind the scenes, for very obvious reasons. People don't know exactly what happened, but you were certainly there. On Afghanistan, I also want to make some comments here to build on what Senator Birmingham and Senator McKenzie said. Sitting around the National Security Committee of cabinet at that time, when as a country we were evacuating Afghanistan, was probably one of the most humbling moments of my life. Most Australians will never understand the decisions that we had to make. They will never understand the speed at which those decisions had to be made. If the meeting was called at five in the morning, we were at that meeting. We were at that meeting, though, to be briefed by Marise Payne, who had been up all night working with like-minded countries and our defence force here on how we were getting a plane in. We had to get in at a particular time and in a particular landing slot. Everything had to be in order. It had to be, quite literally, a military-like operation to ensure that we were able as a country to do what we ultimately did. As you said, that was to provide so many with a place that they could call home.

In terms of being the Minister for Women, most people know your public record, but what most people will never know is what you did behind closed doors. They won't know how you constantly kept holding our cabinet, in particular, to account. I don't think there was a cabinet meeting that I attended from 2015 to 2022 where Marise did not raise the fact that we needed to do more to (a) diversify our parliament, and (b) ensure that there would be more women—it didn't matter what the role was. Marise would always hold us to account.

In Marise's statement, she said 'We come from opposite sides of the country and furthest ends of the Liberal Party, but yes, we have always been there for each other when needed.' I really do thank you for that public acknowledgement of friendship, because in this place most people will never see what goes on behind doors. Sometimes, particularly given the roles that a number of us have had in this place when in government, you actually just need to sit down and be able to talk to someone, and Marise was always there for any one of us who needed a chat.

I will conclude my comments, because others want to speak, but the one thing that will bind Stuart, Marise and I forever—too bad, so sad, Bridget McKenzie—is the fact that there are very few people in life you can actually send crazy cat emojis or pictures to and not have them think you are a crazy cat lady, because they know in their own hearts they've already crossed that bridge a long time ago. I still expect to get pictures of Frankie and Ella. I still want regular updates about your children, because that is obviously a bond that we share. Despite everything else, you can always have a laugh. Marise, I look forward to joining you one day and becoming a crazy cat lady—if I am not already one.

In closing, as we reflect on your remarkable 26-year career, I acknowledge the dedication, the hard work and the principled leadership that you have consistently demonstrated. Your legacy, as has been said, is one of service, integrity and unwavering commitment to the betterment of our nation. Your successful tenure in the Australian Senate, culminating in your outstanding service as the Minister for Foreign Affairs, is a testament to your enduring commitment to Australia and its people. We will all miss you in this place. You've been my seat buddy for a very long time, but I really do wish both you and Stuart the very best for the future.