David Coleman (Banks, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to make a contribution to the condolence motion for Senator Jim Molan AO, DSC and in particular to offer my condolences to his wife, Anne, and children, Sarah, Erin, Felicity and Michael. Jim, obviously, had an extensive and truly remarkable career, and numerous speakers on this condolence motion have gone through that career over many decades and the extraordinary service to Australia that it entailed. But, while those career achievements are extraordinary, they are not the measure of the man. He was a much bigger figure than the sum of those achievements.

He showed incredible courage in his life in a way that few of us are ever required to. He had vision that few of us have—a capacity to see years ahead to the deepest strategic challenges facing Australia. And he had great decency. He cared about people. He was easy to talk to. He was unaffected by his high positions—he was never superior. He was always a very, very decent person. Most importantly, as the Leader of the Opposition observed, his greatest love was for his family, who are such a great credit to him. He was honest, decent and always willing to help others. He led a remarkable life, and he was a complete man. I wish his family my deepest condolences.

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