Decorated soldier and Liberal senator Jim Molan has been praised for a life of service to Australia following his death aged 72.

Senator Molan died on Monday surrounded by family, following a “sudden and rapid” decline in his health after Christmas.

Prominent in his later years spearheading Operation Sovereign Borders before joining the Senate, perhaps his greatest honour came in the Iraq invasion where he served as chief of operations for the coalition forces.

Senator Molan, who represented NSW, was a major-general in the army, serving across a 40-year period in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, East Timor, Malaysia, Germany and the United States along with Iraq.

Former RSL president and army veteran James Brown said Senator Molan was a “general’s general” and a “blunt instrument”.

“He was someone you sent to get the mission done … there was a view he was the general you wanted in the glass cabinet to break in time of war,” he told Sky News.

“He was focused absolutely on Australian security, on the security of our allies, on doing what he could do in the positions he held to make sure that Australians could live safely.”

He was awarded a Distinguished Service Cross by Australia and the Legion of Merit by the US, along with an Order of Australia.

Former prime minister Tony Abbott said Senator Molan was critical to the crackdown on asylum seekers arriving by boat.

“Jim having been involved in so many complicated military operations could see immediately this was one of the reasons that had bedevilled the former Labor government’s approach to border protection and was determined we wouldn’t make the same mistake,” he told Nine Radio.

Another former prime minister, John Howard, also expressed his sorrow for the “energetic, passionate Australian (who) gave so much to his country”.

He described the senator as a “plain-speaking man” and “a true local citizen” following his years of service, including as a volunteer firefighter and rescue helicopter pilot.

Senator Molan first joined the Senate in 2017, and was re-elected at the 2022 federal election.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton described his colleague as a “soldier’s soldier”.

“Whether it was on the battlefield, in the political arena or on the media stage, Jim was admired for his discernment, leadership and unfailingly courteous manner,” he said.

He was diagnosed with cancer in 2021, taking leave from the Senate for treatment.

His family thanked people for their thoughts.

“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,” they said in a statement.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese sent condolences to his family and friends.

“Jim Molan lived his life in service of our country … he was a man of principle and a politician of conviction,” he tweeted.

Senator Molan was also a champion of education and research into stillbirth.

His replacement in the Senate is likely to be held up by the NSW state election in March, as it requires the selection of a nominee by the Liberal party and the endorsement of a joint sitting of the state parliament.

Liberal senator Jane Hume said while it would be terrific for a qualified, high calibre woman to follow in the late senator’s footsteps, it was too early and “possibly inappropriate” to be talking about his replacement. 

“Today, our hearts and our minds and our thoughts are with Jim’s family,” she said.

By Alex Mitchell in Canberra

Canberra Liberals offer condolences

Elizabeth Lee MLA, leader of the Canberra Liberals, offered her deepest condolences.

“Jim served our country with great distinction through four decades in the Australian army, reaching the rank of Major General before taking on a number of roles in politics following his retirement from the defence forces in 2008.

“Since becoming Senator in 2019, Jim devoted life his life to serving the people of NSW. He was also always a great friend to the Canberra Liberals, particularly after the last federal election.

“As a wonderful family man, our thoughts are with his wife Anne, his children, and grandchildren.

“Australia has lost a great man; a man of service and duty; and he will be dearly missed by so many who knew him.

“Vale Jim.”

Life of senator and ex-soldier Jim Molan

LIFE OF JIM MOLAN

* Born in East Melbourne in 1950 

* Joined the Australian Army after finishing school and graduated from RMC Duntroon in 1971.

* Rose to the rank of major-general, serving in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, East Timor, Malaysia, Germany, the United States and Iraq.

* Played a key role as chief of operations for coalition forces in Iraq, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and the Legion of Merit by the Australian and US governments, respectively.

* He also received an Order of Australia for his service in Indonesia and East Timor, before retiring in 2008.

* Appointed by the Abbott coalition government as a special envoy in 2013 to launch Operation Sovereign Borders to tackle people smuggling.

* Entered the Senate in 2017 after Fiona Nash was disqualified by the High Court because of her dual British citizenship.

* Defeated at the 2019 election but chosen in November 2019 to fill a casual vacancy left by the retirement of Arthur Sinodinos.

* Elected to the Senate for NSW in 2022.

* Served as a volunteer firefighter and rescue helicopter pilot.

* Author of two books – Danger On Our Doorstep (about China’s rise and military build-up) and Running the War in Iraq – and a regular commentator on security issues.

* He is survived by his wife Anne, daughters Sarah, Erin and Felicity, son Michael, and five grandchildren.

By Paul Osborne in Canberra