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 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.
Kevin was honourably and consistently committed to the sanctity of human life. He understood the critical difference between declining to keep alive someone who would otherwise be dead and deliberately killing someone who would otherwise be alive. He was also a strong supporter of the palliative care services that, at their best, mean that no one need die in severe pain.
Kevin never let calculation of personal advantage prevent him from doing his duty, as he saw it; such as in 2009, when the Coalition was on the verge of adopting an economically ruinous and politically counter-productive energy policy.
He was a rare intellectual in our political life, publishing four well-regarded books; one of them, "Maybe I do", on modern marriage was, in part, a tribute to his wife, Margie, the love of his life.
Kevin continued to do good work after leaving the ministry and in his final parliament was the Father of the House.
Until just a year ago, Kevin was a regular participant in the annual Pollie Pedal bike ride.
Almost to the last, Kevin was making the most of his time, "filling the unforgiving minute with 60 seconds worth of distance run", writing regularly for The Spectator and preparing his memoirs.
His strong sense of duty and service; his human decency and common sense; made him an adornment to our public life and an exemplar for future generations.
