By Ashleigh McMillan
Former prime ministers and senior Liberal MPs have paid tribute to the faith and conviction of their colleague, former defence and immigration minister Kevin Andrews, who died overnight aged 69 following a year-long battle with cancer.
The Liberal politician was once the longest continuously serving member of federal parliament, representing the seat of Menzies in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs from 1991 to 2022. He was a minister in both the Howard and Abbott governments.
Kevin Andrews was Australia’s longest continuously serving federal parliamentarian.Credit: Glen McCurtayne
In a statement, Andrews’ family said he died peacefully overnight in the early hours of Saturday with his wife, Margie, by his side.
Andrews’ family said they were “deeply proud” of his service to Australia, his local community and the Liberal Party.
“Kevin was devoted to his country, his family and his faith, and lived a life of service,” the statement said.
“Right up to his death, he was working on a number of projects, including his memoirs, which we will endeavour to have published posthumously.”
In a statement on Saturday, former Liberal prime minister John Howard said he talked to Andrews by phone the day before.
“We had a lively discussion about current political issues, with particular reference to some of the challenges facing the Liberal Party in Victoria,” he said.
“I was saddened to learn of his death only a few hours later.”
Howard said Andrews was “a devoted family man who always placed the welfare of his family ahead of all other considerations”.
Liberal MP Kevin Andrews in federal parliament in December 2021.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
On Saturday afternoon, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he offered the Andrews family a state funeral, and paid tribute to the former minister’s “old school” values
“He was always very personable to deal with across the parliament ... He could have strong views but always put them forward in a polite and appropriate way, and he’s someone who is respected for that across the parliament,” Albanese said.
In 1996, Andrews, a devout Catholic, brought forward a bill to repeal the world-first assisted dying scheme introduced by the Northern Territory parliament. The legislation was passed in 1997.
When he was minister for workplace relations under Howard, Andrews was responsible for bringing in the controversial Work Choices legislation amendment, which aimed to unify national workplace relations laws. Work Choices was later repealed under Kevin Rudd’s Labor government.
Tony Abbott and Kevin Andrews during the marriage equality bill debate at Parliament House in 2017.Credit: Getty
Former prime minister Tony Abbott – whom Andrews served in the defence and social services ministries – described Andrews as a “highly effective minister”, loyal, and a good friend.
“His strong sense of duty and service, his human decency and common sense, made him an adornment to our public life and an exemplar for future generations,” Abbott said.
“Kevin was honourably and consistently committed to the sanctity of human life. He understood the critical difference between declining to keep alive someone who would otherwise be dead and deliberately killing someone who would otherwise be alive.”
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described Andrews as a Liberal stalwart and the “finest of men”.
“He was a man of faith, family, intellect, and service,” he said in a statement.
“On behalf of the federal Coalition, I offer my heartfelt condolences to Kevin’s colleagues, his friends, and his family – especially to his dear wife, Margie, and their children.”
Former Liberal prime minister Scott Morrison said Andrews would be “greatly missed”.
“Kevin was a selfless public servant who lived his sincere faith through his devotion to his wife, Margie, and his family, his passion for the Liberal Party and his patriotism for our country,” Morrison said.
Former federal treasurer Peter Costello called Andrews a “man of strong conviction”.
Kevin Andrews has been described by friends and former colleagues as “a man of strong conviction”.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“He made important contributions to policy in defence and family policy, and he was working and writing on these issues to the end,” Costello said.
“His family and those he worked with can be proud of his legacy.”
In 2007, Andrews famously revoked Dr Mohamed Haneef’s Australian visa. Haneef had been granted bail after being arrested in connection with terrorist attacks in Britain.
When asked why he revoked Haneef’s visa, Andrews cited secret information supplied by the Australian Federal Police. That decision kept Haneef incarcerated until the case collapsed.
Federal Liberal frontbencher Michael Sukkar said Andrews had ultimately inspired his own entry into politics, and that he was “deeply saddened” by the loss of his close friend.
“Guided by his faith, he always fought for important causes and stood tall in defence of timeless values,” said Sukkar, the MP for the neighbouring seat of Deakin.
“His legacy will live on through the many lives he touched, and we celebrate the very full and consequential life he lived.”
Andrews’ successor in Menzies, Keith Wolahan, said: “While much will rightly be said of Kevin’s significant contributions to the parliament and our nation, it is his role as a devoted husband and loving father that stands above all. His family was the heart of his life, and their loss is one shared by all who knew and respected him.”
Bill Shorten, a former Labor leader and minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, said Andrews was “a gentleman who wore his faith with pride”.
“While we were opposed on many political fronts, I respected that he always fought for his values; what you saw was what you got,” Shorten said.
Tributes have flowed in for Andrews, attesting to his faith and conviction.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
“In his final term, he did excellent work chairing the joint committee on the NDIS on a bipartisan basis … [and was] an experienced politician committed to the best interests of NDIS participants.”
Liberal senator Sarah Henderson said Andrews was a “leading light of the Victorian Liberal Party”.
“I greatly admired and respected Kevin for his work as an MP and minister, and as ‘father of the house’,” Henderson said.
“Kevin’s leadership on opposing euthanasia and providing greater support for palliative care inspired so many Australians, including me.”
Victorian Liberal senator James Paterson said he would miss Andrews, calling him “thoroughly decent” and thoughtful, while Queensland senator Matt Canavan remembered Andrews as “a fighter and a gentleman”.
Andrews lost preselection for Menzies to former special forces captain Keith Wolahan before the 2022 federal election, prompting his exit from politics after more than 30 years.
Former Victorian Liberal president Michael Kroger said he was a man of “considerable courage”.
“He stood by his beliefs. [He was] a man who would put his flag in the ground and stand by it.”
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