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Tuesday, 8 May 2012
Page: 2749

Senator IAN MACDONALD (Queensland) (15:54): It is difficult to add anything further to the very fine words that have been expressed today in this Senate by Senator Abetz and Senator Evans, Senator Siewert and Senator Joyce, and, indeed, by all of my Senate colleagues, about a very fine person, our dear friend and Senate colleague, Senator Judith Adams. I extend again my condolences to Stuart and Robert and to Judith's extended family on her passing.

It was an honour and, indeed, an uplifting experience for me to attend Judith's funeral service in Kojonup, along with most of her Senate colleagues, and anyone who was anyone in the Liberal Party, including the federal leader and deputy leader, the Western Australian Premier and the state president of the party. It was, as others have said, a magnificent show of respect for someone we all loved.

I want, in passing, to express my thanks to Judith's family, and to the Kojonup council and community for facilitating the attendance of so many friends and colleagues from all over Australia at her final farewell. I also want to mention in that regard David Johnston and his office for their help in getting many of us from afar from Perth to Kojonup—not an easy task. As others have so well recounted, you know the impact that Judith had on people when 'Ironbar' Wilson Tuckey was reduced to emotion in his wonderful eulogy to his friend and co-conspirator—and I emphasise 'co-conspirator'—in Western Australia.

My great admiration for Judith was earned by the character, determination and courage that others have so eloquently described. But my special association with Judith resulted from our shared passion for regional and remote communities and for the Liberal Party and its role in country Australia. Judith was living proof that the Liberals were the legitimate party of rural Australians. I might say, in that regard, that, curiously, the last funeral I attended in Western Australia—indeed, the only other funeral I have attended there—was that of Senator John Panizza. He was also, at the time, our whip, also a passionate advocate for rural and regional Australia, and, like Judith, a person who had not been born in Australia but who had come here and, through farming and other enterprises, had become a very successful Australian. That is rather coincidental, and at Judith's funeral I was reminded of Senator John Panizza.

It was one of Judith's great achievements, and one that she was very proud of, that the Liberal Party had achieved in rural Western Australia the success that it actually had over many years. Her work for people who do not live in the capital cities is legend for all of us who know, but I do not think it will ever be fully appreciated by the many country Australians who Judith had helped during her pre-Senate life and had continued to help since her time in the Senate.

Judith was a dear friend, a loyal colleague and a great help to me in many of the difficult issues that have come before this parliament. On anything to do with health or farming or rural matters I would always dutifully take the word of the relevant minister or shadow minister, but then I would go and check it with Judith for common sense and accuracy, and it was Judith who was able to explain to me and to guide me on the difficult issues of stem cell and RU486 matters that troubled this parliament and this chamber many years ago.

My small role in the Defence portfolio these days allows me to associate with many a senior and, indeed, junior Army, Navy and Air Force officers, and all of them you speak to knew and respected Judith. She was a great and learned supporter of the men and women who comprise Australia's Defence forces. I was delighted that the respect that Judith showed to them was reciprocated by the military with the last post and the ode at her farewell service. I know that our Defence personnel would want to be associated with the condolence motion before the chair. Before I conclude, I would also like to say that I know that Senator Sue Boyce, my Queensland colleague who unfortunately is not here today, would also want to be associated with all of the very fine words that have been spoken about Senator Judith Adams today. Sue and Judith shared many common issues and I know that Sue, along with the rest of us, will miss her greatly. Rest in peace, Judith Adams.