Nick Xenophon (SA, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I rise of course to support the condolence motion and to add my comments to those of my colleagues. I will be brief because so much of what needs to be said has been said today. Judith Adams was an incredible woman. It saddens me that she is no longer with us, but it warms the heart to hear the tributes made to her today in this chamber. I only hope that her sons, Stuart and Robbie, her grandchildren, her family and her friends may take some comfort from the words genuinely and sincerely expressed in her honour in this chamber today.

I think Australians learnt a lot about Judith from her time in this chamber. Through her dedication and her hard work she epitomised what it was to be a good legislator, particularly through her participation in Senate committees.

So many of us today have spoken about her stoicism. I wonder whether 'stoic' is the right word for Judith, because stoicism is about being indifferent or ignoring the pain that you have and your condition. I think Judith went beyond stoicism. Not only did she ignore the pain but, in a sense, she transcended it by her sheer dedication, her hard work, her commitment and her selflessness.

The last conversation I had with Judith was on the day that President Obama was here in Canberra. There was a Senate committee hearing, chaired by Senator Heffernan, held at Old Parliament House because this building was in lock-down. It was apparent to all that Judith was in enormous pain; she was really struggling. We walked slowly and gingerly downstairs to the dining room to have a bite to eat and had a good chat, but not once did she complain. And if you read the Hansard from that day you would not know—the questions she asked and her contribution to that Senate committee that day, were, as always, first class.

I just want to reflect and wonder whether her nursing days explain her temperament—somehow direct and warm both at the same time. It was this temperament that gained her great respect from her colleagues in this chamber over a number of years.

I also want to mention that, at her funeral, I did feel privileged—as I think Senator McEwen felt privileged—to be there and to see how much she was loved and respected not just by her colleagues but by her community and her family. There were people who travelled across the country to be a part of it—ordinary citizens who had participated in a Senate inquiry. The inquiry itself is not as important so much as the fact that they were there because they appreciated what she did. Charlie Arnott was there, as were Dr Sarah Laurie and Sam McGuinness. Charlie said this about her: 'Judith was an amazing woman who stood up for what she believed in to the very end. She put her constituents and friends ahead of her health.'

I just want to finish off by saying that Judith's incredible work ethic, her ferocious tenacity, her relentless questioning and advocacy for issues and for her constituents, and her sheer dedication to public service are an inspiration to us all.