Michaelia Cash (WA, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I rise on behalf of the opposition today to mark the passing of former Senator for Tasmania John Odin Wentworth Watson AM, who passed away on 8 August 2025 at the age of 88.

In mourning his passing, we honour a life that was devoted to service, to family, to faith, to community and, of course, to his state of Tasmania, but, ultimately, to this nation. On behalf of the coalition, we extend our deepest sympathies to his beloved wife of 62 years, Jocelyn; his children, Ian, Rosemary, Fiona and Geoff, and their partners; his many grandchildren; and his wider family. They mourn the loss not only of a public figure but of a deeply loved husband, father and grandfather. I acknowledge in particular his daughter Rosemary and son Geoff, who have joined us here today in the Australian Senate; his wife, Jocelyn, who is actually watching the live stream at home in Tasmania; as well as his children elsewhere in the world, who are also fortunate enough, because of technology, to be able to watch this condolence via the live link.

As we have heard, John Watson served in this place for three decades, from the 1 July 1978 until his retirement on 30 June 2008. Unfortunately, I didn't actually have an opportunity to serve with Senator Watson. I commenced my service in the Senate on 1 July 2008. So he closed his three chapters of serving Tasmania as a senator whilst I opened mine in serving Western Australia as a senator. At the time of leaving the parliament, he was the Father of the Senate. This is, of course, a title conferred on the longest continuously serving Senator. That milestone reflected his remarkable endurance in this chamber, but, more importantly, it reflected the esteem in which he was held by his colleagues on both sides of politics.

Born in Launceston on 25 January 1937, John Watson grew up in Northern Tasmania. His education at the University of Tasmania led him to degrees in commerce and economics, qualifications that would define his career both before and during his time in the Australian parliament. He became a fellow of multiple professional institutes: the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Certified Practicing Accountants, the Chartered Institute of Secretaries, and the Taxation Institute of Australia. He worked as a chartered accountant, company director, textile industry manager and primary producer. He also lectured part time on economics and commerce at Launceston Technical College and the College of Advanced Education. Now, these were not incidental experiences. They grounded him in the real economy and gave him a professional acumen that he brought to bear in his parliamentary service.

John Watson was elected as a Liberal senator for Tasmania at the 1977 election and took his seat in July 1978. He was re-elected at every subsequent poll until his retirement in 2008. And, over that 30-year career, he contributed to an extraordinary breadth of committees: economics, finance, public accounts, superannuation, regulations and ordinances, environment, education, rural affairs and many more. His committee record today would probably still hold the record as one of the most extensive in modern parliamentary history. He served as a temporary chair of committees for 13 years and as a member of the Parliamentary Retiring Allowances Trust. He was also active, as we've heard, in interparliamentary work and the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship.

But, above all, John's legacy is most deeply etched in the field of superannuation. If Paul Keating is remembered as the architect of universal superannuation then John Watson deserves to be remembered as one of its master builders. He chaired the Senate Select Committee on Superannuation during critical years when the framework of our national retirement system was being tested, refined and entrenched. At a time when superannuation was still viewed as a privilege for public servants and the wealthy, he saw the merit of extending it universally. He understood that a scheme of compulsory saving, if properly designed, could secure the dignity of millions of Australians in their retirement. John Watson's professional background as an accountant gave him a rare ability to scrutinise complex financial structures. His was the careful, methodical mind that cut through the jargon to identify weakness, press for accountability and improve legislation. John Watson was instrumental in persuading the Liberal Party to accept the superannuation guarantee levy. In doing so, he helped clear the path for one of the most important social and economic reforms in our modern history. Today, Australia's superannuation pool exceeds $3 trillion, and it is not an exaggeration to say that millions of Australians will enjoy greater comfort and independence in retirement because of John Watson's quiet, diligent work. Senator Nick Sherry, who later became minister for superannuation, praised him on the floor of this chamber, acknowledging his role in pressing departments for answers and insisting on accountability during the late-night committee hearings that shaped the final system. Cross-party recognition of this kind is rare in politics. It spoke to John Watson's integrity, his diligence and his skill.

In his first speech to this chamber in 1978, John Watson spoke of the privilege of entering the Senate and of his commitment to both Tasmania and the nation. He set out a philosophy that was grounded in respect for enterprise, a belief in personal responsibility and a recognition of government's role in enabling opportunity. He warned against the dangers of excessive regulation, but he also stressed the importance of fairness. Those words foreshadowed his later work on superannuation. He was not a man to seek the spotlight. He was not a headline maker. But he was a problem solver, and he believed that government should act in ways that improved people's real lives, not merely its own image.

After retiring from politics, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for significant service to the parliament of Australia through a range of committee roles and to the community of Tasmania. This honour was richly deserved.

In addition to his Senate career, John served his local community as a councillor on the West Tamar Council. That step from national to local life reflected the values that he always held. Service was not about prestige but about making a difference wherever he could.

Those who knew him describe him as a man of faith, humility and dedication. He was secretary of the Parliamentary Christian Fellowship during the 1980s, and his personal faith remained a guiding compass throughout his life. John Watson will be remembered for his patience, his integrity and his analytical mind, but he will also be remembered for his warmth. He was courteous, even in disagreement. He never mistook politics for personal animosity. He believed in the dignity of this chamber, and he carried himself with a quiet authority that earnt him the respect of colleagues on both sides of the aisle. He did not chase the microphone but, when he spoke, people listened. And when he questioned witnesses in committee hearings they knew they were being held to account by someone who had done his homework.

Today as Australians plan their retirements, as families save for their future security, and as our superannuation system continues to underpin both household wellbeing and national prosperity, the name John Watson deserves to be remembered. He may not have sought recognition, but his imprint is unmistakable. Every Australian who enjoys the benefits of superannuation owes a small debt of gratitude to John Watson's diligence, persistence and vision. On behalf of the opposition I extend our heartfelt condolences to Jocelyn, to their children and grandchildren and to all who knew and loved John Watson. He was a man of service, a man of principle, a man of faith and a man who leaves behind not only a grieving family but a nation that is stronger and fairer for his contribution. May he rest in peace.