Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

Can I start by associating myself with the remarks that were made earlier today by the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Leader of the Nationals, who I think spoke incredibly well and described very accurately the views that have been held by me, by members—my colleagues—in this place and also by the people who live in the electorate of McPherson, whom I have the honour to represent in this place. I would also like to commend the previous speakers for their comments, the views that they have put and the memories that they have of Her Majesty themselves, as well as their families' views and of the views of their constituents.

I, like many others in Australia, woke to the news that Her Majesty had passed with a significant level of sadness because for me, as for many people across Australia, she had been the only sovereign during my lifetime. And, as I reflected on it even more, I realised that, in my lifetime, I will never, ever see another reigning queen, because the line of succession is all male at the moment. I make no remark on that other than to say that I will never see another reigning queen during my own lifetime.

By recognising that, I was able to put in place what Her Majesty's life had meant to me when I was growing up as a young girl in Townsville in North Queensland. I remember that the first time that I saw the Queen was when she was driving along the Strand in Townsville. Many of the schoolchildren had the opportunity to go down to the Strand just to see her drive past. It was the most fleeting of glimpses, but I have never, ever forgotten that. I subsequently made a journey into the heart of Brisbane some years later to see her when she was there. Whilst I certainly didn't get very close to her, I remember seeing her at a distance and the fact that there were so many people who were gathered on the streets in Brisbane at that time to be able to see her.

I also recall some comments that my mother had made to me, and I think she makes these remarks almost annually to me and my sister. She remembers very fondly when the Queen and Prince Philip were in Brisbane some time before that, and she actually threw a rose to Prince Philip. She claims that it landed in the car. It may well have; I accept my mother's view of what happened then. I remember when I actually did get to meet the Queen and Prince Philip, when they were here at Parliament House in 2011. I spoke to Prince Philip and said, 'My mother threw a rose to you when you visited Brisbane all those years ago.' He looked at me and said, 'Did she really, or are you just saying that?' and I said, 'No, she really did.' Interestingly, I've always had a very high regard for Prince Philip because sometimes, when I look at him, I see my own father. They have quite an uncanny physical resemblance, and, when I read the reports about Prince Philip, I am reminded of my own father.

The day I met the Queen was a tremendous honour for me. I felt very proud to be able to meet her. When I look at the final stages of her life, there are some things that really stand out to me. One is the image of her on her own in the church at Prince Philip's funeral. I think that we all recognised how sad it must be losing a partner of so many years and not being able to sit directly beside your own loved ones and share that so intimately. The other image that comes to mind is the image of her when she met the incoming Prime Minister, Liz Truss. I looked at her and thought, 'Yes, you look frail; you look little,' but she looked so happy. And it was beyond my imagination to contemplate that some 48 hours later Her Majesty would have died. I certainly did not expect that.

So to Her Majesty I say: I thank you for your service, for what you demonstrated to us over so many years. To King Charles: I truly wish you all the very best. Long live the King.

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