By Holly Hales
Family, friends and former prime ministers have gathered to farewell Liberal Party stalwart Kevin Andrews at a state funeral in Melbourne.
The long-time federal MP has been remembered as a conservative warrior and “man of conviction” after he died following a year-long battle with cancer on December 14.
Liberal MP Kevin Andrews in federal parliament in December 2021.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen
Former prime minister Tony Abbott delivered the eulogy at Monday’s service for Andrews at St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne.
“For all his achievements on the national stage, it’s the family that Kevin and Margaret have built inside their home with five wonderful children and their spouses and seven adored grandchildren that will stand as his legacy as much as anything he did in Canberra,” Abbott said.
“He was a man of conviction, for whom politics was a calling and not a career. Above all, he was a gentleman.”
Former prime minister John Howard, who also came to the service, said he spoke with Andrews, who served in his cabinet, a few hours before he passed away.
Former prime minister John Howard arrives at the service.Credit: Eddie Jim
“To the very end he was a warrior for what he held dear,” Howard said in a statement.
MPs across the political spectrum attended the funeral, including Liberal Senator James Paterson, Victorian Liberal MPs Jess Wilson and Brad Roswell, as well as senior federal MP Michael Sukkar, former federal treasurer Josh Frydenberg and former MP and current Goldstein candidate Tim Wilson.
Andrews also served in the cabinet of Abbott, who remembered him as a “fine Australian, a highly effective minister, a loyal colleague, and a great friend”.
“Kevin was devoted to his country, his family and his faith, and lived a life of service,” his family said in a statement following his death.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott touches the casket of Kevin Andrews, who served as a minister in his goverment.Credit: AAP
“Right up to his death, he was working on a number of projects, including his memoirs, which we will endeavour to have published posthumously.”
The father of five represented the blue-ribbon seat of Menzies in Melbourne’s east for three decades, retiring in 2022 after losing a preselection battle.
It was the first time a sitting federal Liberal MP was unseated during Victorian preselection in more than three decades.
Andrews was a senior figure in the Liberal Party’s right wing, championing conservative causes and serving at various times as minister for defence, social services, immigration, ageing and workplace relations.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton praised Andrews as the “finest of men” and a “true Liberal”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said both sides of the bench would agree Andrews was a “man of conviction”.
Born in Sale, eastern Victoria, Andrews moved to Melbourne to study law and won the seat of Menzies in a 1991 by-election and held the seat for the next 31 years.
He rose to prominence while still a backbencher when he introduced the Andrews Bill in 1996, which restricted the rights of the ACT and Northern Territory to make euthanasia laws.
As a cabinet minister, he pushed for several controversial pieces of legislation including a citizenship test and WorkChoices industrial relations package.
A devoted Catholic, Andrews opposed abortion, same-sex marriage and stem cell research.
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