The longtime federal MP died after a year-long battle with cancer on December 14, with his wife of 45 years Margaret by his side.
Former prime minister Tony Abbott delivered the eulogy to a packed St Patrick's Cathedral in Melbourne on Monday, telling the state funeral his former colleague was a gentleman.
Kevin Andrews has been remembered as a man of character, conviction and courage. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton came to pay tribute, along with former prime minister John Howard and outgoing Labor minister Bill Shorten, representing Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
"Kevin was a man of character, conviction and courage, a man of honour in the bear pit of public life, for whom politics was a calling, not a career," Mr Abbott said.
"For all his achievements on the national stage, it's the family that Kevin and Margaret have built inside their home with five wonderful children and their spouses, and seven adored grandchildren that will stand as his legacy as much as anything he did in Canberra.
"The consolation to Margie and to the family is that Kevin turned out to be such a singular politician, so universally admired for being a decent human being, as well as someone who made a difference in all he did."
Tony Abbott says Kevin Andrews was universally admired for being a decent human being. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
MPs across the political spectrum offered their condolences to the Andrews' family.
Mr Howard spoke with Mr Andrews, who served in his cabinet, a few hours before he died.
"To the very end he was a warrior for what he held dear," Mr Howard said in a statement.
Mr Dutton praised him as the "finest of men" and a "true Liberal", while Mr Albanese said both sides of the bench would agree Mr Andrews was a "man of conviction".
Former rivals John Howard and Peter Costello were reunited to farewell the former minister. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
Mr Andrews also served in Mr Abbott's cabinet.
He shared a statement from Mr Andrews' family via social media on Monday.
"The Andrews family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and those who honoured Kevin's memory today at the state funeral," the statement read.
The father of five represented the blue-ribbon seat of Menzies in Melbourne's east for three decades, before retiring in 2022 after losing a pre-selection battle.
STATE FUNERAL OF LATE KEVIN ANDREWS: FAMILY STATEMENT— Tony Abbott (@HonTonyAbbott) The Andrews family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers and those who honoured Kevin's memory today at the state funeral.Kevin passed away peacefully last Saturday with Margaret by his side following…December 23, 2024
It was the first time a sitting federal Liberal MP was unseated during Victorian preselection in more than three decades.
Mr Andrews was a senior figure in the Liberal Party's right wing, championing conservative causes and serving at various times as minister for defence, social services, immigration, ageing and workplace relations.
Born in Sale, eastern Victoria, Mr Andrews worked as an associate to Sir James Gobbo at the Supreme Court of Victoria before leaving to become a barrister.
After six years he moved into politics, winning Menzies in a 1991 by-election and holding the seat for the next 31 years.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has praised Kevin Andrews as a "true Liberal". (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)
He rose to prominence while still a backbencher when he introduced the Andrews Bill in 1996, which restricted the rights of the ACT and Northern Territory to make euthanasia laws.
As a cabinet minister, he pushed for several controversial pieces of legislation including a citizenship test and the WorkChoices industrial relations package.
A devout Catholic, Mr Andrews advocated for traditional family values and opposed abortion, same-sex marriage and stem cell research.
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