Tearful Erin Molan listens in as Jim Molan’s parliamentary colleagues pay tribute
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Tearful moment Erin Molan watches her late father Jim’s colleagues say a final goodbye: ‘I wanted Australia to be ready and strong’
- Jim Molan died at age 72 in January after a battle with prostate cancer.
- Senator Molan wanted Australia to ‘stand ready, stand strong’ in the face of threats
Erin Molan has watched Parliament deliver a moving tribute to her father Jim, who died last month after a battle with cancer.
On Monday, colleagues of the late liberal senator and former army major general gathered to pay tribute to the man they remembered as a “true patriot.”
His family, including Erin, were in the public gallery of the Senate as the speeches were made.
Senate opposition leader Simon Birmingham credited the former major general for his focus on national and border security, insisting that those who portrayed him as a ‘China hawk’ disregarded his earlier remarks. who welcomed the rise of China.
Television personality Erin Molan and her family gathered in the Parliamentary Public Gallery to hear tributes to her late father, Senator Jim Molan.
Loved ones were moved to tears by the tributes, which were delivered by both representatives of Senator Molan’s Coalition and Foreign Minister Penny Wong.
“Specifically highlighting the impact of Russia, Iran, China and North Korea in threatening the liberal world order and creating strategic uncertainty and instability in different ways, the events and actions that have occurred since have certainly validated his concerns since that time.” said Senator Birmingham.
‘However, it was clear to me that we should welcome China, from a position of strength and necessary to increase our self-reliance.
“For Jim, it was a simple case of showing leadership in the face of an oft-repeated saying, be prepared and be strong, because the world is a nasty and brutal place.”
Before entering politics, the Senator’s military career spanned 40 years and he has been credited as one of the architects of Operation Sovereign Borders, a hardline military-led policy to deter asylum seekers arriving by boat.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong (right) said Australia owed a debt of gratitude to Senator Molan.
He entered parliament in 2017 after Fiona Nash was disqualified for her dual citizenship.
In 2019, he was relegated to the unwinnable fourth position on the liberal Senate ticket, but was later appointed to the occasional vacancy caused by the departure of Arthur Sinodinos. He was re-elected to the Senate in the 2022 federal elections.
Chancellor Penny Wong said Senator Molan left a legacy of professionalism, dedication and service.
“Australia owes a debt of gratitude to Jim Molan for his dedicated service to our country in our defense force, through public policy and in our parliament,” he said.
Senator Molan was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early 2021. He died peacefully with his family by his side on January 16 at the age of 72.
Senator Molan is survived by his wife Anne, four children and five grandchildren.