Bridget McKenzie (Victoria, National Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the National Party in the Senate I rise to pay tribute to a dedicated statesman, a principled conservative and a great servant of the Australian people, the honourable Kevin Andrews. His passing is an immense loss to our nation, to the Liberal Party and to all those who had the privilege of working alongside him through his distinguished career.

Born in Sale, Victoria, Kevin Andrews was always proud of his country upbringing—as he should have been—despite living in and representing his metropolitan electorate with distinction. Before parliament, his childhood ambition was to call horseracing. He was a great friend to the Victorian racing industry his whole life. With his father as the secretary of the country race club for nearly 25 years, he grew up around horses and racing, and unfortunately for the racing industry—or may we say fortunately for the parliament and constituents of Menzies—his father convinced him to go to university and ultimately pursue law, but not before he earned some part-time wages calling races to pay his way through university in the seventies and eighties. I do not know what was going on down in Gippsland racing, but Peter McGauran was a great friend of the racing industry down there as well. One of the great delights of my life was at an AHA pre-Cup function in Melbourne where Kevin was the guest race caller, shall we say, on the Monday, and it was absolutely the best call I've heard of my life—very much a missed calling there.

Kevin dedicated over three decades of his life to the Australian parliament, representing the people of Menzies with integrity, wisdom and an unwavering commitment to his principles. He was first elected in 1991, and he became one of the longest-serving members of the House of Representatives, leaving an indelible mark on the political and policy landscape of our country. Hearing of his preselection story of 25 other competitors, shall we say, I would love to have heard that particular race called by somebody. Mr Andrews retired at the 2022 general election, and it's a great tragedy that he wasn't able to enjoy a long and fulfilling retirement with his loving family.

Kevin Andrews was not only a formidable policymaker. He was also a deeply compassionate individual. He understood that politics is ultimately about people; about strengthening communities; about ensuring every Australia has the opportunity to prosper; about assisting families, in whatever way that he could, to stay together; and about standing firm for the values that define our nation. His work in supporting civil society, religious freedoms and the social fabric of Australia will be remembered as part of his enduring legacy. Whether advocating for stronger families, workplace reform or a robust national defence strategy, Kevin's approach was always principled, thoughtful and deeply informed. His work on national security was particularly significant, helping to modernise Australia's defence posture and ensuring our armed forces had the resources and strategic framework they needed to protect our sovereignty and national interest in a modern environment.

Kevin was also a man of great personal kindness. Many in his chamber, across the political divide, can attest to his generosity of spirit, his willingness to mentor younger parliamentarians and his calm and reasoned approach to the most complex of policy challenges. His dedication to serving not only his constituents but also his colleagues was a mark of his character and the depth of his public service ethos.

To his family—his beloved wife, Margaret, and their children and his grandchildren—on behalf of the National Party I extend my deepest sympathies. The sacrifices made by the families of those of us who serve in this place are often unseen, but they are very profound. Kevin was a devoted husband, a loving father and a man of strong faith, and I hope his family can take comfort in the legacy of service and principled leadership that he's left behind.

His passing is a moment of great sadness that all who knew him, but his contribution and legacy will endure. May he rest in peace.