Liberal senator Jim Molan has died at the age of 72 after a long battle with prostate cancer.
His family released a statement on Tuesday revealing that Molan’s health had rapidly declined after Christmas before he died on Monday.
‘He was many things – a solider, a pilot, an author, a volunteer firefighter, and a senator,’ they said.
‘Most of all, he was an adored husband, father, grandfather, and brother. Our loss is immeasurable, but we are comforted in our memories of a full life courageously lived, devoted to family and in service of the country he loved.’
He leaves behind his wife Anne, four children and five grandchildren.
Molan was a major general in the army, under which he served for 40 years, before he retired in 2008 and moved into politics in 2012.
He was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer in 2021 but remained optimistic about his future battle with the illness.
Senator Jim Molan has died at the age of 72 after a battle with cancer
Senator Molan was a major general in the army, under which he served for 40 years, and leaves behind his wife Anne, four children and five grandchildren
‘I am receiving the best possible care from my clinicians and have the love, support and prayers of my family,’ he said.
‘I have never been afraid to fight the battles that need fighting and this is no exception.’
He took a leave of absence in April that year to begin chemotherapy before returning to parliament and becoming re-elected for a six-year term in the 2022 election.
Prime minister Anthony Albanese paid tribute following the shocking news of his death.
‘Jim Molan lived his life in service of our country. He was a man of principle and a politician of conviction. My condolences to his loved ones, colleagues and friends,’ he said.
Former prime minister Scott Morrison said he left ‘an amazing legacy’.
‘He was a very big man, Jim – big in stature … he had big ideas, he had big passions,’ he said.
‘Jim’s service in Iraq at the senior level … was like few Australian servicemen and women had ever experienced, such was the regard that was held of Jim’s military capabilities.’
Another colleague and former minister Keith Pitt said it was a ‘great loss’ for Senator Molan’s family, parliament and Australia.
‘A bloke that would always take your call,’ Mr Pitt tweeted.
Molan was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in 2021 but remained optimistic about his future battle with the illness
A statement was released by his family on Tuesday confirming that Molan had died after a sudden decline in his health on Monday
Former RSL president and army veteran James Brown said Senator Molan was a ‘great patriot’.
‘A deep thinker, an unstoppable force, and a good friend – we will miss him.’
Senator Simon Birmingham shared his condolences saying the country had lost a ‘true patriot’.
‘Jim Molan served Australia as a soldier, a Senator, a community volunteer and a strategist,’ he said.
‘A man of principle, who was willing to make sacrifices for his beliefs, Jim embodied the best of service to nation.
‘Jim’s death will be felt with great sadness by all his colleagues who all valued his abiding commitment to Australia, his diligence as part of our Liberal Senate team and his thoughtful friendship.’
Liberal colleague Hollie Hughes shared details of conversations she had with him before Christmas.
‘(We) were having a chat about how it was, he’d finished his chemo, he was feeling better and was waiting to see how it had gone … we both sort of said, ‘Well, that’s it, quiet time in January and I’ll see you back in February’,’ she told Nine Radio.
During his military career, Molan was commanding officer of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment, commander of the 1st Brigade, commander of the 1st Division and its Deployable Joint Force Headquarters, and commander of the Australian Defence College
In April 2004, he deployed for a year to Iraq to serve as Chief of Operations for the new Headquarters Multinational Force in Iraq
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In 2016, Molan unsuccessfully stood as a Liberal Party candidate for the Senate in New South Wales at the 2016 federal election
‘It’s just such a sad, sad day, he’s going to be greatly missed, not only by the country and the contribution that he made, but our Senate team is very, very close.’
His sports presenter daughter Erin broke down in tears describing her father as her ‘hero’ shortly after news broke of his diagnosis two years ago.
‘He’s lived an entire life of service to others and I’ve grown up looking at him like he’s my hero. He’s my best friend and we speak every single day.’
‘He’s an absolute fighter and when we were hit with the news, all we wanted was hope, and we got hope and there is no one I would back more to beat this fight because we need him too. We love you Dad so much.’
Molan was commanding officer of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and commander of the 1st Brigade during his military career.
Commander of the 1st Division and its Deployable Joint Force Headquarters and commander of the Australian Defence College were among his roles.
Molan was commanding officer of the 6th Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment and commander of the 1st Brigade during his military career
He was deployed to Iraq as Chief of Operations for the new Headquarters Multinational Force in April 2004.
He received an Officer in the Order of Australian for his role in Indonesia and in East Timor, the Distinguished Service Cross and Legion of Merit by the US government.
Molan retired in 2008 before he was made special envoy for Operation Sovereign Borders under Tony Abbott’s government.
He is credited with helping to create the Stop the Boats and asylum seeker policies.
Molan unsuccessfully stood as a Liberal Party candidate for the Senate in New South Wales at the 2016 federal election.
Molan took over the role of senator Arthur Sinodinos following his resignation in November 2019.
At the 2022 election, he was re-elected to a six-year term.
