Jason Wood (La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Community Safety, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Today I rise to pay tribute to the life, dedication and unwavering service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on behalf of the electorate of La Trobe. Celebrated as the longest reigning monarch in British history, Her Majesty received 16 Australian Prime Ministers, from Robert Menzies. I personally thank Her Majesty for being an inspirational leader to me and so many Australians. Her Majesty was greatly loved and admired across the Commonwealth nations for her tenacity, generosity of spirit and commitment to her role as sovereign. Our admiration unites the Commonwealth family across the globe, where, for generations, we have watched and admired Her Majesty's service to her people.

Following the death of her father, King George VI in 1952, as a young woman of just 25 years, with two young children, the role of monarch was placed upon then Princess Elizabeth. Without question, the young Queen undertook the role with resolution and devotion, and she pledged her life to fulfilling the position as monarch, just as her father and ancestors had done for hundreds of years before her.

During her 70 years on the throne, Her Majesty undertook significant patronages of various organisations. I particularly admired Her Majesty's philanthropic endeavours. At the height of her reign, the Queen was patron to over 600 charities, some of which she proudly advocated for for over 75 years, including the RSPCA and, of course, Scouts Australia. Her charitable efforts saw Her Majesty host regular fundraising events at Buckingham Palace to garner support for charities that she represented, especially those helping people in need. Her Majesty was such a kind and thoughtful person and often donated so much of her own funds to these organisations.

Queen Elizabeth notably visited Australia 16 times during her 70-year reign, with her last visit being in 2011. In Melbourne, alongside her husband, Prince Philip, Her Majesty rode a royal tram along St Kilda Road to lunch at Government House, opened the newly built $1 billion Royal Children's Hospital and visited Federation Square and the Ian Potter Centre, whilst throngs of Melburnians lined the streets to welcome the Queen, greeting her with flowers and keepsakes.

As a member of parliament and a former member of Victoria Police, my professional life has been underpinned by service and I've been honoured to see the Queen on two occasions. One occasion was in 2006 at the Exhibition Building in Melbourne, under the Howard government. I actually took my mother along. So many senior Australians admired the Queen through their younger lives and have books and magazines in her honour. Again, during my time with Victoria Police, when I was directing traffic in St Kilda Road, I had the great honour of seeing her go by very late at night.

This brings me to the efforts of the showcase—if I can call it that—and the services provided during her funeral, where I saw 10,000 police officers on duty, in London's biggest police operation, with 1,650 military personnel in the coffin procession of Her Majesty, and 142 Royal Navy officers pulling the gun carriage carrying Her Majesty's coffin. It was an incredible effort by them.

Just finally, my wife, Judy, has actually met the Queen and shaken her hand on two occasions—once when she provided her with flowers during a royal visit to the Solomon Islands in October 1982, and again in Hong Kong in 1986. Only a young girl at the time, my wife proudly recalls representing her school to greet the Queen and Prince Philip. This was very special for her. She is very much a huge fan of the Queen, as so many people were.

In closing, I offer my heartfelt condolences to King Charles and the royal family. May Her Royal Majesty rest in peace.

See this speech in context