Jessica Collins (NSW, Liberal Party) | Hansard source

This morning I attended the launch of the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency. Along with many other coalition MPs and senators, I was pleased to welcome the Chief of the Defence Force, Admiral David Johnston AC, and it struck me there this morning that in a couple of weeks Admiral Johnston will be one of the veterans who will hopefully not have to access this service but will be an advocate for this service. Admiral Johnston has had a long and honourable career in the Royal Australian Navy. I believe he joined when he was 16 years old; it is my understanding that he spent 48 years in the Navy. Can you imagine committing your life to the defence of this nation at 16? He joined as a junior entry cadet midshipman. Over the time of his career in the Navy, he created a family. I thank his family for the commitment they have made to defending this nation for us—in particular his wife, Belinda Johnston, who is a patron of the Defence Member and Family Support branch.

As I said, it's noteworthy that Admiral Johnston was there this morning, in light of the launch of the Veteran and Family Wellbeing Agency, like so many other proud Australians who served their country with distinction. This agency will be charged with looking after the wellbeing of our outgoing CDF but also of all veterans in Australia. It reminds us in this place of our obligation, of every senator and every member of parliament, to our veterans. That obligation is at the core of our service in this place, and it should never be forgotten.

This agency exists to ensure that veterans and their families are not left to navigate a complex system alone. A few people here in this chamber were listening to my speech last night; I talked a lot about the Navy family. That sense of family is at the absolute core of defence culture. It forms part of the esprit de corps. It builds tradition and builds long ties to the nation well after service has ended. It's a common spirit, a loyalty and a pride which is shared by everyone. As I said last night, my grandmother, who served in World War II in the Royal New Zealand Navy, passed away at the age of 106 just a few weeks ago, and the Navy turned out in droves to support us and her family and to pay homage to the life of service that she gave.

Another veteran is my good friend Senator Lambie, who is not in the Senate chamber today. Jacqui—if you'll indulge me, Acting Deputy President Ghosh—has been missed from this chamber for far too long. The coalition and I will welcome her back in a few short weeks; I understand she has been having a difficult time having to navigate these very complex systems.

With your indulgence, Acting Deputy President Ghosh, I also take the opportunity to pay homage to my very good friend Senator Wendy Askew. Senator Askew is finishing up as whip in a couple of weeks, and she will be very sorely missed by not only everybody in the coalition but everybody on the crossbench and in the government. She is a person of integrity inside and outside of this chamber, of great intellect and fairness, and has a great sense of duty not only to her Liberal Party but also to her state of Tasmania and to this great nation.

One message that we learned from Senator Askew in her speech just before is that you can make a difference in this chamber. Sometimes it doesn't feel like you do, but you can always make a difference. Committees are important work. Collaboration is important work. But, as with the running theme of this speech, family trumps all, and it's time for Senator Askew to go and join her family. Thank you so much.