The Liberal Party mourns the passing of Senator Jim Molan AO DSC.
Jim was an outstanding Australian whose career of service to his country spanned more than five decades.
Jim served in the Australian Army for 40 years, including deployments to Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and East Timor, Malaysia, Germany, and the United States. Jim served as the Coalition’s chief of operations in Iraq in 2004.
Jim was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australian (AO) for his role in Indonesia and in East Timor and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) by the Australian Government for “distinguished command and leadership in action in Iraq”.
In the lead up to the 2013 election, Jim helped design the Operation Sovereign Borders policy, which successfully secured Australia’s borders. Jim then served as the Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Operation Sovereign Borders from 2013 to 2014.
During his time in the Australian Senate Jim advocated forcefully and consistently on behalf of Australia’s national security interests.
Jim’s professional life was dedicated to Australian military personnel and the security of our country.
Since 2001 Jim fought his battle with cancer with enormous dignity and strength.
On behalf of the Liberal Party, I extend our sincere condolences to Jim’s wife Anne, and to his children Sarah, Erin, Felicity and Michael.