David Bushby (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise also to support the motion of condolence regarding Senator Judith Adams. It was with great sadness that I read the text message I received just before Easter from Senator Mathias Cormann, whom I have the pleasure to follow on this motion, informing me that my good friend and colleague Senator Judith Adams had passed away.

Judith had been ill for many years. This was a fact that we all knew. But, because she had been fighting that illness so strongly, so stoically, so heroically, I and possibly many others had come to expect her by our side in this place, regardless of the illness she had been battling for so long. As such, when she took a turn for the worse before Christmas, I fully hoped that she would again soon be joining us back here just as she had when she had recovered from complications from her illness on earlier occasions. But, unfortu­nately for Judith, for her family, for the Liberal Party, for the people of Western Australia and for the people of Australia, this was not to be the case this time.

Judith and I worked most closely when I joined her as a deputy opposition whip in this place. Initially, I sat next to her in the chamber and we worked closely, helping manage the opposition in this place together with the then Chief Opposition Whip and Manager of Opposition Business, Senator Stephen Parry, who is here on my right, and later with the current Chief Opposition Whip, Senator Helen Kroger. Senator Adams was a delight to work with in that role and was a tower of strength to both chief whips. She taught me a lot about the role of a whip and the management of the chamber.

As important as the role we played as deputy whips was, however, working so closely with Judith exposed me to one key characteristic which I will forever admire and remember her for—and that is the manner in which she quietly and tenaciously bore the great discomfort and pain which was almost constantly with her as a result of her illness or from its treatment. Although on the whole she disguised this well, she at times let down her guard and the pain and discomfort were apparent. Sitting next to her, I probably had a better opportunity to witness that than most people. But not once did I hear a complaint and not once did she ask for special treatment or deference because of her illness. She just wanted to get on with the job for which she was elected, a job which I believe she did in an exemplary fashion. Others have spoken of her work ethic, her passion for health issues, particularly those affecting women and rural and regional Australians, and her great dedication to committee work. I echo those comments.

I was also, as many in this place have noted, fortunate enough to attend her memorial service in Western Australia and was heartened by the size of the crowd. The hall that it was held in was large and yet people were standing around the sides—all the seats were taken. I think there were even people outside the entrance who were trying to listen from there. The respect that was shown for Judith by the local community and by the people who had travelled from all across Western Australia and all across Australia to pay their respects to her was a real testament to the lady, to the woman, to her as a senator, to her as a local community leader and to her as a member of her family. The other key point that I would just like to remember and note here about Judith was this. We have heard today that she was a warrior for what she believed in. She certainly was. One of the key aspects on which I worked very closely with her was near the end of 2009 when the CPRS debate was occurring and a number of us in this place had determined that we were going to cross the floor and vote against the position that we as a party had taken, and Judith and I were two of those who had determined that we were going to do that, because Judith felt very strongly that that piece of legislation that was before this place then was not the right thing for the people that she represented. I know there are varying views on that, but it just highlights her strength of view: when she formed a view that is what she stuck to, and she went all out to actually put that into place.

She and I put together a joint media release and offered to the party room that we would resign our positions as the deputy opposition whips because, having had a discussion, we both felt that it was inappropriate for us to be responsible, as part of the leadership team, for delivering that which the party room had decided when we were going to be voting against that. So we both formed that view, and went to the party room and made that offer. As things transpired, that offer never needed to be acted upon, and we all know the events of those days. But that just highlights to me how she was a warrior for what she believed in. She had formed that view and very passionately then pursued the outcome that she thought was the right one.

She was also a true compassionate Liberal. She was totally trustworthy and loyal to those around her, and a perfect example to me of what a senator in this place should be. I will miss her company and her advice, and I wish the very best to her family. May she rest in peace.