Condolence Motion on the passing of former Member for Eden-Monaro, Gary Nairn

[Check against delivery.]

Thank you, Mr Speaker. I want to start by expressing my condolences to Gary Nairn’s wife, Rose, his children Ben and Deborah, his grandchildren, his wider family and friends - following his recent passing after a battle with cancer. 

As the current Member for Eden-Monaro, I know Gary Nairn was a popular and respected advocate in our community, and that was evident through a range of community members who commented on social media following his passing. 

In fact, he was my own local member growing up as a teenager in Eden-Monaro, he was someone I did see regularly behind Prime Minister Howard in Question Time on the nightly news. 

He was someone that stood up for what he believed in, both during his political service and more recently, and that was evident through a range of issues that he was involved in – the agriculture, youth, disability and conservation spaces. 

Gary was not afraid to take the bull by the horns, and that was evident and on display when he decided to take on the bellwether seat of Eden-Monaro, after starting his political career in the Northern Territory. 

We all know he won it a number of times, serving as the Member for Eden-Monaro between 1996 and 2007. He was also in that rare company of Members who are respected across the political spectrum. 

In true Eden-Monaro form, regardless of where our community sits on the political spectrum, there has been a great expression of sadness of Gary's loss to our community. 

He went on to become Parliamentary Secretary in the Howard Government and was also appointed a Special Minister of State. 

He headed the government's inquiry in the 2003 Canberra bushfires, finding that a one size fits all approach to natural disasters just wouldn't cut it. This is something that Eden-Monaro knows all too well. 

After politics, he remained involved in our region through numerous community organisations and activities, and was appointed as an Officer in the Order of Australia in 2015 for his work.

As Chair of the Mulloon Institute, he worked to advance sustainable agriculture and environmental regeneration practices - something top of mind for farmers and communities across our region. 

His strong passion for strengthening our environment also saw him as a Director of the Biodiversity and Conservation Trust of New South Wales.

In 2018, he became the National Chair of the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Australia, with a particular focus on empowering more kids from the regions to have a crack and to reach their potential. 

He was committed to tackling disadvantage across all forms of life and to building a stronger and more sustainable future. 

He demonstrated this every day in this place as Member for Eden-Monaro, and in the many years since that time.

He was approachable, he was community driven, and he was respected across the political spectrum. 

Gary will be missed by many people in our community. Vale Gary Nairn.