Retirement of Senator Marise Payne

On behalf of my senate colleagues, I congratulate Senator Payne on her 26 years of dedicated service to the people of New South Wales.

She has served her country as a cabinet minister in some of the most demanding portfolios, including foreign affairs, women, defence and human services.

Marise has demonstrated her staunch devotion to her party and to liberal values.

I respect her love of country and her belief in our institutions, in particular the Senate. 

Marise is our country’s longest serving woman senator. I know this, along with her other achievements, took tremendous dedication.

Throughout her parliamentary career Marise has sought to be a leader for women and girls, and to encourage as many women and girls as possible to get involved in politics.

Within the Parliament, she also dedicated a substantial amount of time to serving on committees related to foreign affairs, trade and defence, which were a considerable foundation for her ministerial service, as well as over fifteen years as a member of the Committee of Privileges, one of the most important domestic committees of the Senate.

I wish Marise the best for her future endeavours.