‘Loyal colleague, devoted friend’ Former Liberal minister Kevin Andrews dies aged 69

Tributes are flowing in for Kevin Andrews, who held several ministerial positions in the Howard and Abbott Liberal governments, and who has died after a battle with cancer.

Kevin Andrews died of cancer on Friday.

Tributes have flowed in for Kevin Andrews, a minister in the Howard and Abbott Liberal Governments and long-serving member for the Federal Melbourne seat of Menzies, who has died aged 69.

Mr Andrews, who held several ministerial positions including Minister for Defence, died on Friday night after a battle with cancer, according to a statement released by his family.

His wife Margaret and his family were with him.

Statement from the family of the late Kevin Andrews: pic.twitter.com/2XpZ1gCSB8

— Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) December 13, 2024

Former prime minister Tony Abbott described Mr Andrews as a “highly effective minister, a loyal colleague, and a great friend”.

Kevin Andrews was a fine Australian, a highly effective minister, a loyal colleague, and a great friend.

As social services minister in the Abbott government, he brought-under-control exploding numbers on the disability support pension and implemented a private sector-work…

— Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) December 14, 2024

In a statement on X, Mr Abbott wrote: “As social services minister in the Abbott government, he brought-under-control exploding numbers on the disability support pension and implemented a private sector-work experience version of work for the dole.

“As defence minister, he supervised our armed forces training mission to the Iraqi army that helped to defeat the Islamic State insurgency.

“He was also a key contributor to the Howard government in the portfolios of workplace relations, immigration, and aged care.

“One of his finest achievements, though, predated his time as a minister: the 1997 Andrews’ private members bill that overturned the Northern Territory’s euthanasia legislation. “Regrettably, his courage and principle was not appreciated by everyone in the local Liberal Party and led to an (unsuccessful) pre-selection challenge”.

Anthony Albanese also paid tribute, saying: “Kevin Andrews dedicated his life to the things he cared for most: family, faith, community and nation. He served all four with integrity and devotion.

“Kevin’s Liberal colleagues and his Labor opponents would agree, he was a man of conviction. He was respected as someone who held his views firmly and argued them fiercely.”

Former Liberal Prime Minister Scott Morrison also honoured Mr Andrews’s memory, sending condolences to the late minister’s family and friends.

“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,” he said on X.

Mr Andrews was known as a conservative MP and staunch Catholic who continued to campaign for social and charitable causes after he left parliament in 2022.

When he entered parliament in 1991 Mr Andrews campaigned on life issues from the backbench and became the Minister for Ageing, Minister for Employment and Minister for Immigration in the Howard Government and later the Minister for Social Services and Minister for Defence in the Abbott Government.

As part of his long Parliamentary services Mr Andrews became “father of the House” until he resigned.

In the statement released on X by Mr Abbott the family said: “Kevin was devoted to his country, his family, and his faith and lived a life of service”.

The current Federal member for Menzies, Keith Wolahan, extended his gratitude for Mr Andrews’s accomplishments and “decades of public service...marked by courage, selflessness, and a steadfast commitment to improving the lives of others”.

“It is his role as a devoted husband and loving father that stands above all...his family was the heart of his life,” Mr Wolahan wrote on X.

Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, Bill Shorten said: “While we were opposed on many political fronts, I respected that he always fought for his values: what you saw was what you got.

“He was a gentleman who wore his faith with pride...He was determined to never waste a moment.”

Senator James Paterson said Mr Andrews was a “thoroughly decent, deeply thoughtful, and dedicated servant of his country and the Liberal Party” and his family can be very proud of his “significant legacy” of service.

Senator Matt Canavan sent prayers to Mr Andrews’s family, calling the former minister “a devoted servant...a fighter and a gentleman”.