MEDIA RELEASE - STATEMENT ON THE RETIREMENT OF SENATOR THE HON MARISE PAYNE

PAUL FLETCHER MP

Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts

Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy

Manager of Opposition Business in the House

MEDIA RELEASE

8 September 2023

STATEMENT ON THE RETIREMENT OF SENATOR THE HON MARISE PAYNE

I express my thanks and congratulations to Senator the Hon Marise Payne for her 26 years of service to the people of Australia; to her constituents as a Senator for New South Wales; to the Parliament; and to the Liberal Party. 

Marise’s achievements, as Australia’s longest serving female Senator, as Minister for Human Services, as Defence Minister, and as both the Minister for Women and Foreign Minister, are remarkable. She is an inspiration to so many, and an outstanding role model for girls and women with an interest in public service. 

Marise and I have been friends since university days and to work together as parliamentarians was very special.  A particular shared focus was infrastructure outcomes for Western Sydney, including Western Sydney Airport, the new M12 motorway, the new Metro rail line to the airport and many other projects including the 39 kilometre, 4 lane Northern Road from Narellan to Penrith.  These will be among the many legacies of Marise Payne’s distinguished political career. 

Marise will be a big loss to the Parliament and the Liberal team, but I have no doubt she will continue to make important contributions in our national life and public policy debate. 

ENDS

Media contact: William Sparling | 0416 628 276 | [email protected]