A modern young woman with some old fashioned touches: Senator Marise Payne in 1999. Photo: Belinda Pratten

First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on July 16, 1994

Marise Payne is a good reason not to try to label people. Just when you think she is very modern and progressive, talking about the republic and the next century, she offers a very firm handshake and tells you how she discussed it all with her conservative father.

"I know that, by and large, Australians are cynical about politicians but I don't think the people know what imposts the politicians put upon themselves." 

Marise Payne

There's nothing wrong with offering firm handshakes and seeking the approving opinion of parents. It's just that there is something fetchingly old fashioned about it.

Marise Payne, left, Michael Ward and other members of the Australian Republican Movement during a broadcast by then-PM Paul Keating in 1995. Photo: Andrew Meares

So Ms Payne is a modern young woman with some old fashioned touches. She was a country girl from the Southern Highlands who lives at Erskineville. She is on the State executive of the Liberal Party, works for the Premier, Mr Fahey, and is vice chair of the Australian Republican Movement.

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Her two big commitments right now are to work towards a Liberal victory in the NSW election next March and to promote the republican cause.

It's an interesting double which will demand some nimble, nicely-balanced footwork. It is also a unique challenge. John Fahey, Peter Collins and other NSW Liberals want both an election victory and a republic. But none has such a commitment to work so actively for both.

"Cynicism is poisonous." Payne in 1997 Photo: Jacky Ghossein

One wouldn't label her cool or passionate, either. She says she is passionate about both causes but she behaves cool.

Was her decision to come out for the republic courageous?

"As long as that's not a Yes Minister question," she laughs. "You know, when the secretary doesn't like the minister's decision and says, 'that's a very courageous decision, minister'."

Payne doesn't think it particularly courageous. Yet she admits having paused for thought when ABC Radio's Ellen Fanning introduced a report on Ms Payne joining the ARM by saying something like: "At 29, Marise Payne could have had an interesting political career ahead of her..."

Marise Payne still fancies a political career with the Liberal Party in a republic.

She was raised on a dairy farm run by her father, Bill, and mother, Ann, "a wonderful life" for the young Marise and her younger brother, Bill.

Her father fought in New Guinea during the war and later became an accountant. Marise gets her French name from an Irishwoman he met during the war and with whom the Paynes still correspond. They now run beef cattle and fat lambs on a property at Robertson, near Bowral. The loyal and loving daughter visits as often as she can.

She attended Bardwell Park Infants School and Earlwood Primary, one of whose most distinguished old boys is John Howard. Then she went to MLC Burwood, before taking an Arts-Law degree at the University of NSW with a view to becoming a barrister. Payne planned some professional experience and then turning to politics.

A road crash 10 years ago changed all that. She nearly broke her neck and had to wear a brace for three months.

"It changed my view about when you do things," she says. "I think, if you want to do something, you should do it. Don't put it off, because you might not be around to do it." Payne seized the day, joined the Young Liberals, became president of the NSW Young Liberals in 1987-88 and then Federal president.

She joined Ted Pickering, then in Opposition in the NSW Legislative Council, working as a research officer in the run-up to the Coalition success at the 1988 election. She then joined the Deputy Opposition Leader, Andrew Peacock, in Canberra, returned to Sydney to work for Fahey when he was Minister for Industrial Relations and then went back to Canberra, to Opposition Senate leader Robert Hill. When John Fahey succeeded Nick Greiner as Premier, Marise Payne returned to his office as a policy adviser.

All of this put her in what we are led to believe is a minority of Australians, those who admire politicians. Are our expectations of politicians too high?

"I don't know what Australians expect," she says. "I know that, by and large, Australians are cynical about politicians but I don't think the people know what imposts the politicians put upon themselves. The vast majority have a sincere commitment, work incredibly hard and try to maintain family lives."

She agrees it would be a good idea for politicians to invite people to their offices just to observe how they work. "Scepticism about politicians is healthy," she says. "Cynicism is poisonous."

Payne would like to be an elected politician herself. She has tried three times, unsuccessfully, for a Senate seat. Most recently she was runner-up to Dr Bob Woods for the casual vacancy created by Bronwyn Bishop's move to the Lower House.

Meanwhile, she believes her cool passion for politics can last forever. "Politics changes all the time. Levels of excitement are usually at a pretty high pitch."

On Wednesday, for example, she enjoyed the exchanges between Fahey and Paul Keating over the future look of Sydney and the Liberal election campaign meeting at Manly, where she noticed Tony Abbott, MP for Mackellar and prominent monarchist, across a crowded room. Abbott has accused Liberals who support the republic of disloyalty.

"I am prepared to stand my record of loyalty in the Liberal Party since 1982 up beside anyone's," she says. "That doesn't preclude me from having views. To people who say we want to tear up the Constitution (Liberal Party leader Alexander Downer says exactly that) I say we just want to develop our nation, to move forward."

Payne says young people who don't get involved in talking about Australia's future are abrogating their responsibility. "It's no use complaining in 40 years' time."

Her mother supports her on the republic. Her father understands. "I might win him over," she says.

First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on July 16, 1994

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