Thank You, Linda

Thank you, Senator Linda Reynolds!

As a Brigadier-General of the Australian Army for 38 years, and a Senator for WA for 11 years, Linda has lived a life of devoted service to the country.

I’ve been honoured to serve, travel, and work alongside Linda in a variety of defence, foreign policy, and security capacities.

I have found very few representatives with her level of conviction, drive, and such a depth of compassion and friendship.

As Defence Minister and Defence Industry Minister, Linda worked hard to engage regional economies in defence procurement, and to bolster Australia’s regional and global leadership.

Australia’s AUKUS arrangement is in no small part a credit to Linda.

As NDIS and Government Services Minister, Linda fought hard to deliver better outcomes for participants and more opportunities for small providers.

As Assistant Home Affairs Minister, then Minister for Emergency Management and North Queensland Recovery, Linda championed Australia’s border security and national resilience, and led on issues such as modern slavery reform.

And it’s this last point which I think really goes untold. As a backbench Senator, frontbencher, committee chair, and community leader, Linda has worked tirelessly to address the plight of human exploitation - and particularly the impact of voluntourism, orphanage trafficking and conflict on children.

This has led a number of international addresses and appointments - most recently through the Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking.

Linda has spent decades in the public service making a real difference to Australia’s national defence, regional security, and global standing.

For your friendship and for all you have done for Fisher, the country, and the cause of human freedom, I say simply this: thank you, Linda.