Former federal minister Kevin Andrews, 69, has died after a year-long battle with cancer, according to a statement released by his family.
The statement, which was posted on X by former prime minister Tony Abbott, said Mr Andrews passed away peacefully overnight, with his wife Margie by his side.
The father-of-five represented the blue ribbon seat of Menzies in Melbourne’s east for three decades, holding prominent cabinet positions in the Howard and Abbott Coalition governments.
He was a senior figure in the Liberal party’s right wing who championed conservative causes and served at various times as minister for defence, social services, immigration, ageing and workplace relations.
Kevin Andrews speaks in the House of Representatives in 2021. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
“We are deeply proud of his service to our country, our local community and his party, although shattered by his death after a year-long battle with cancer,” the statement said.
“Kevin was devoted to his country, his family, and his faith and lived a full life of service.
“Right up to his death, he was working on a number of projects, including his memoirs, which we will endeavour to have published posthumously.”
Tributes have begun for the former minister.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described Mr Andrews as a strong advocate who was always personable to deal with.
“Kevin Andrews was old-school, he could have strong views, but always put them forward in a polite and appropriate way, and he’s someone who was respected for that across the parliament,” he said.
Mr Albanese said he had reached out to Mr Andrews’s family to offer a state funeral.
Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described Mr Andrews as a stalwart of the Liberal Party and a man of faith, family, intellect and service.
“A writer and a deep thinker, Kevin published many books and articles over the years on varied and wide subject matters — from liberalism, to the family unit, and even one on cycling, which was a great passion of Kevin’s,” he said.
“He was a staunch defender of the family unit and a true Liberal.”
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said Mr Andrews was a “champion for his faith and his conservative values”.
“His untimely passing has shocked us but as we mourn him, we should remember and honour the strength of his convictions, even those we may not have shared,” he said.
Mr Andrews was born in the Gippsland town of Sale in eastern Victoria and moved to Melbourne to study law at both Monash University and the University of Melbourne.
Tony Abbott and Kevin Andrews share a smile in parliament in 2017. (ABC News: Nick Haggarty)
He worked as an associate to Sir James Gobbo at the Supreme Court of Victoria before leaving to become a barrister.
After six years he moved into politics, winning Menzies in a 1991 by-election which he held 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.
The legislation remained in place for the next 25 years before being repealed in 2023.
In January 2021, Mr Andrews lost preselection for the seat of Menzies, becoming the first sitting Victorian Liberal MP to be ousted by members in more than two decades.
He was defeated by former military commando and barrister Keith Wolahan, who today described his predecessor as “a man of unwavering principle and conviction”.
At the time of his defeat, Mr Andrews said his commitment had always been to the people of Menzies and Australia.
“The greatest privilege an Australian can have is to serve in the federal parliament,” Mr Andrews said.
“And to have done so for almost three decades is something which I wake up every morning, and shake myself that I have been able to do that.”
ABC/AAP
