Michael Sukkar MP

Condolence Motion: The Hon Kevin Andrews, AM

Today’s condolence is not one that I—up until Kevin’s untimely death—thought I would ever be giving in this place for my very close friend, confidant and ally Kevin Andrews. Kevin, as others have indicated, lived an extraordinarily consequential life. In Parliament House, we often judge people’s impact using the titles they’ve held and the duration that they’ve been here as quick markers of how consequential they have been. He left parliament as the Father of the House. He was the member for Menzies for over 30 years. He was a minister in the Howard and Abbott governments. He played a huge role—even from the backbench, initially—in the Howard government. At the end of his parliamentary career, he ticked the boxes of being a huge political figure not just for the Liberal Party but in this country, by any of those metrics.

But they are not the reasons why he was a huge figure. Kevin was a giant of Australian politics. For many of us, his approach and his values were a reflection of Australia at its best and a reflection of a time when politics wasn’t a blood sport. It wasn’t about playing the man; it was about playing the ball. It was a vocation, not a career pathway. For many of us in the parliament, Kevin embodied the best instincts of what many imagine a parliamentarian to be.

Kevin took on difficult fights. Kevin stood up for important causes. From my perspective, he stood up for causes I wholeheartedly agreed with. Kevin’s fundamental view that strong nations, strong states and strong communities are built on the foundation of strong and healthy families is the most significant touchstone of his political ethos and one with which I entirely agree. His defence of life, at times when it was unpopular and at times when it was difficult, and his abiding view on the sanctity of life was a thread throughout his career.

I remember being a humble branch member in his electorate in my early 20s handing out how-to-vote cards in the thick of the debate around euthanasia. Whilst those of us who were supporting Kevin couldn’t have been prouder of him, I witnessed firsthand the ferocious, targeted and coordinated attacks he faced at that time when he was standing up for the primacy and importance of palliative care and the sanctity of human life. That was a fight that not many backbenchers would take on, but that was a fight that Kevin took on with relish and succeeded. He may not have succeeded for all time, but he succeeded at that time and in that moment.

Kevin obviously took that vein of thinking throughout his political career. As I said, being a minister in two governments is quite extraordinary and a testament to his capacity, not just his values. A lot of us instinctively reflect on Kevin’s values and the fact that he was tethered to firm values. One of the dirtiest words in politics today is ‘pragmatism’, which often is the shortcut for selling out your values for what is politically expedient at the time. Kevin took on those difficult fights, even at a personal cost to himself, even when the zeitgeist was against him. Even though we focus on his values, it’s also important to focus on his ability and his capacity.

In every portfolio he was given, there were difficult challenges. I suspect, without knowing firsthand, they were given to him because there were difficult challenges in those portfolios. With a steady hand and a safe pair of hands, Kevin was given those difficult portfolios at difficult times because of his capacity. Whether it was his time in defence, industrial relations, social services or aged care, no-one would suggest that Kevin was given an armchair ride in the portfolios offered by Prime Ministers Howard and Abbott. For him to take those on and, in most cases, not only succeed substantively—which is the most important thing—but also succeed politically is a testament to his capacity for good policy, for hard work and for his capacity in the political sphere, which, in the end, he was a part of.

As I alluded to at the beginning, I was very close to Kevin as a confidant and as a very close ally. He supported me when I was a candidate in the preselection for Deakin back in 2012. Our very close mutual friend, the late Sandra Mercer Moore, who was one of the trio that many would refer to—it is a very sobering moment when I think that two of my closest allies and confidants have both now passed. I do know that Kevin and Sandra will be catching up on all things politics in a better place now. The one thing that I think is of some comfort to Margie and Kevin’s wonderful family is the legacy that Kevin leaves behind. Importantly, Kevin lived what he preached. Everyone in this chamber—and I’m as guilty of this as many—says one thing publicly and sometimes acts a little bit differently privately or when there aren’t cameras on. Kevin was a remarkable man, in that he practised what he preached.

Kevin was a staunch advocate for marriage and the importance of marriage as an institution—the foundational institution to support strong families, which in turn support strong communities, a strong state and strong nations. He lived that with Margie, his wonderful wife, who was by his side throughout his political career and before and after. During his time in parliament, in what I think is the greatest mark of success, Kevin raised a wonderful family and had a marriage that was as strong at the end of his political career as it was at the beginning. I think that is the greatest mark of success that any of us can hope for. Kevin practised what he preached.

It’s also been remarked just how courteous Kevin always was. Kevin was under attack a lot. Being a conservative Liberal is not particularly popular with large swathes of the media or our political opponents, but Kevin had something I wish I had a bit more of; Kevin had this unflappable ability to remain courteous with everybody, no matter what the attacks were. That speaks to a character trait, again, that we could all aspire to have a bit more of. I think that has come through in the condolence motions over the last few days.

An extraordinarily consequential life—Kevin was a giant of Australian politics, a giant of the Liberal Party and a giant of the Victorian Liberal Party. The Victorian Liberal Party didn’t necessarily treat him with the respect he should have been treated with at all times, but Kevin never spat the dummy. He was a Liberal through and through, and he remained true to our values and our cause even at times of disappointment, which again speaks to his character.

To Margie and their wonderful family, I say at this extraordinarily difficult time that I hope you are drawing comfort from the fact that Kevin was an extraordinary man with an extraordinary legacy, who, most importantly, helped countless people throughout Australia and in his local community, which is probably the greatest legacy that anyone can leave behind. May he rest in peace.

Click here for a PDF of the Hansard extract for this speech.