Ron Boswell dead at 85: Tributes flow for long-serving Nationals leader
Former Nationals senator Ron Boswell has died at the age of 85.
The Queensland politician served in the Senate from 1983 until his retirement in 2014, including 17 years as the Nationals’ Senate leader.
Mr Boswell passed away peacefully at his Brisbane home on Tuesday morning, surrounded by family.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Mr Boswell said his biggest achievement was his electoral battle with One Nation’s Pauline Hanson.
“In the fight of my life, against Pauline Hanson, I risked everything to stand up against her aggressive, narrow view of Australia,” he told the Senate
“Defeating Pauline Hanson and One Nation in 2001 has been my greatest political achievement.”
Tributes have begun flowing for the long-serving MP. Nationals senator Susan McDonald described him as “a giant in so many ways.”
“He fought ferociously for the men and women who grow the food of this nation, whether they be fishermen, farmers, graziers, right across this country,” she told Sky News.
“His perseverance, his determination – it is legendary that he would sit outside the prime minister’s door demanding to be heard, demanding that the regions that he advocated for would be listened to and get the right outcome.
“He was fiercely loyal. He was fiercely loyal to the communities that he represented and fiercely loyal to the National Party.”
