Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—I move:

That the Senate records its sadness at the death, on 22 January 2025, of the Honourable John Colinton Moore AO, former member for Ryan, former Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, Industry, Science and Tourism, and Defence, places on record its gratitude for his service to the Parliament and the nation, and tenders its sympathy to his family in their bereavement.

I'm conscious my colleagues on the other side of the chamber will have many comments to make, but I do want to rise on behalf of the government to express our condolences following the passing of former member and minister the Hon. John Moore at the age of 88. As I begin, I wish to convey the government's sympathies to his family and friends—namely, his wife Jacqueline; his children Simon, Sarah and Andrew; his stepchildren Sarah, Caroline, Charlotte and Annie; and all of their families.

John Moore was a country boy who never forgot his roots. He was born in Rockhampton on 16 November 1936 and was raised on a cattle station west of Bowen. Before his 26-year career in politics, John was a businessman and stockbroker who formed his own brokerage which he grew into the largest single trading business in Queensland.

John was elected to the House of Representatives for the division of Ryan in 1975 and held this seat until his retirement in February 2001. Previously known for his success in business, John forged himself as a formidable and talented coalition minister, serving in three federal ministries and two cabinets across the Fraser and Howard governments.

John will be remembered for his commitment to his constituents of Ryan during his two decades of service to this parliament, for his commitment to his party and for his commitment to our country. As Minister for Defence from 1998 to 2001, John Moore oversaw the Australian peacekeeping mission in East Timor. This was the largest deployment of Australian forces since Vietnam as part of the international force for East Timor, a multinational peacekeeping taskforce organised and led by Australia.

John will also be recognised for his contribution to the 2000 defence white paper, a paper which set out the long-term future of Australian security. What was clear from John's service last week, which I had the extraordinary honour of attending, was the extraordinary mark he left following two decades of service to the Australian parliament and, of course, to the Liberal Party.

After parliament, John continued to serve his community. In 2004, Mr Moore was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia, AO, for service to the community through the Australian parliament. This award recognised his development of the strategic industry policy and of both policy and management reform in the defence sector. John was re-elected nine times by the people of Ryan—quite a feat. Those who knew him best gave heartfelt tributes at the service last Tuesday. They included General the Hon. Sir Peter Cosgrove AKAC, CVO, MC, (Retired); the Honourable Warwick Smith AO; and Dr Denver Beanland AM.

One of the quotes from the tribute was the famous Theodore Roosevelt quote. It's one that was used to sum up John's life and contribution and one that all members of this Senate could reflect on from time to time:

It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself in a worthy cause.

I pay my respects to John Moore and recognise his contribution to our state and to our country. The government expresses its gratitude for the work of the Honourable John Moore AO and extends its deepest condolences to his friends, family and loved ones.