Ron Boswell (Queensland, National Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise today to pay my respects and to give tribute to Senator Judith Adams. Like all my colleagues, I watched her courageous struggle with admiration. To her Senate colleagues Judith was an absolute model of stoicism in the face of adversity and until the end of her brave battle with cancer, actively attended to her work as a senator for Western Australia following her election in 2004.

A trained nurse, midwife, health consult­ant, Judith was a passionate advocate for women's health, particularly in rural and remote areas. This is a subject that as a National Party senator I see as being of great importance and I applaud Senator Adams for pursuing this course. She also showed bravery and commitment to her country when she joined the nursing corps in the New Zealand army and served as a nurse in the Vietnam War. Her dedication to her country and caring instincts for people would later serve her well in her career as a senator.

Her service in the Senate could only be described as intensely dedicated and committed. Even in the last few weeks she was still ringing her staff and constituents, making sure that her office was election ready. This was the kind of dogged determination she showed as a senator. We should all aspire to have the same kind of drive and care for the people we represent. The Senate is a tough place at the best of times, however Senator Adams endured all the usual pressure that this office holds and still managed to cope with a destructive illness.

Her example should remind senators and members of parliament how seriously we must take our jobs, about how we can think we have done all that we can to look down and strive to do more. It is also a sobering reminder of how little time we have to achieve. She reminded us that as hard as we may think our job is, there are always people out there who have it tougher and need us to speak up on their behalf. Senator Adams knew this and never waivered in her service to the Australian people. If we give up when it gets a little too much for us then we are doing ourselves and our constituents a disservice and we are ignoring the legacy of the people such as Senator Adams, who endured so much and still gave more.

As tragic and as sad as Senator Adams's passing is, her family and friends and colleagues should be proud of the example she has set and the work she has done. She was an inspiration to all of us. I do not think there is anyone in this chamber who thinks she had anything left to prove or anything left to give. She has truly set the benchmark for us and all who follow her. I thank her for that and extend my condolences to her family and her extended family.