Kevin Andrews is farewelled at funeral after year-long battle with cancer

Family, friends and former prime ministers are gathering to farewell Liberal Party stalwart Kevin Andrews at a state funeral in Melbourne.

The longtime federal MP is being remembered as a Conservative warrior and “man of conviction” after he died on December 14 following a year-long battle with cancer.

Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott will deliver the eulogy for Mr Andrews at St Patrick’s Cathedral, East Melbourne, on Monday.

MPs from across the political spectrum shared their condolences with the family of former Defense Secretary Andrews following his death.

Former Prime Minister John Howard said he spoke to Mr Andrews, who served in his Cabinet, just hours before he died.

“Until the end, he was a fighter for what he held dear,” Howard said in a statement.

Mr Andrews was also a member of Mr Abbott’s cabinet, who remembered him as a “fine Australian, a highly effective minister, a loyal colleague and a good friend”.

Mr Abbott shared a statement from Mr Andrews’ family on social media on Saturday.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton praised Mr Andrews as the ‘best man’ and a ‘true liberal’

“We are extremely proud of his service to our country, our local community and his party,” the family said.

The father-of-five represented the blue seat of Menzies in Melbourne’s east for three decades and retired in 2022 after losing a preselection battle.

It was the first time in more than thirty years that a sitting federal Liberal MP was ousted during the Victorian pre-selection.

Mr Andrews was a senior figure within the right wing of the Liberal Party. He championed conservative causes and was at various times Minister of Defense, Social Services, Immigration, Aging and Workplace Relations.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton praised Andrews as the “best man” and a “true liberal”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said both sides agree that Andrews is a “man of conviction.”

Born in Sale, eastern Victoria, Mr Andrews moved to Melbourne to study law at Monash University and the University of Melbourne.

He worked as an associate to Sir James Gobbo at the Supreme Court of Victoria before leaving to become a lawyer.

Former Prime Minister John Howard said he spoke to Mr Andrews, who served in his Cabinet, just hours before he died

The longtime federal MP is being remembered as a Conservative warrior and “man of conviction” after he died on December 14 following a year-long battle with cancer.

After six years he moved into politics, winning Menzies in a by-election in 1991 and holding the seat for the next 31 years.

He rose to prominence while still a backstabber when he introduced the Andrews Bill in 1996, which limited the rights of the ACT and Northern Territory to make euthanasia laws.

As minister he pushed for several controversial laws, including a citizenship test and the WorkChoices package for industrial relations.

He backed Mr Abbott when Malcolm Turnbull challenged him for the leadership in 2015, unsuccessfully as deputy leader against Julie Bishop.

A devout Catholic, Andrews advocated traditional family values ​​and opposed abortion, gay marriage and stem cell research.

He was the longest-serving MP at the time and said in his final speech that he entered politics to make a difference.