Extract from The Guardian
The 42nd premier of Victoria and the first woman to lead the state has died after a long battle with illness
• Joan Kirner obituary
• Joan Kirner obituary
Joan Kirner, the first woman to lead Victoria, has died at the age of 76.
Kirner, who was in office from 1990 to 1992, replaced John Cain at the tail end of the Labor government’s third term. She was defeated by Jeff Kennett in a landslide election in October 1992.
Her family released a statement saying they were saddened to announce Kirner passed away on Monday after a long battle with illness. She had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2013 and was receiving chemotherapy.
A member of the Socialist Left faction, Kirner entered state parliament as the Legislative Council member for Melbourne West in 1982 and moved to the Legislative Assembly seat of Williamstown in 1988.
As the minister for conservation, forest and lands (1985-1988), she was integrally involved in the formation of Landcare, while she oversaw the introduction of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) while minister for education between 1988 and 1990.
She was leader of the opposition from October 1992 before retiring from the Victorian parliament in 1994.
Prior to entering parliament, she had been a teacher and was president of the Victorian federation of states school parents’ clubs from 1971 to 1977 and its executive officer from 1978 to 1982.
Kirner was part of a group Labor women who established Emily’s List Australia in 1996 to provide financial, personal and mentoring support to progressive Labor women candidates.
Kirner is survived by her husband Ron, children Michael, David, and Kate.
Tributes from across the political spectrum have flowed in with the federal Labor leader, Bill Shorten, saying Kirner was a “dauntless warrior for social democracy” and a “leader of the march of women through institutions of power”.
“Joan Kirner’s was a life lived for the transformative power of education: as a community advocate, parliamentarian, minister and premier of Victoria,” he said.
Shorten said she would be remembered as a mentor and inspiration for countless women including Australia’s first female prime minister Julia Gillard.
“From her father Keith, a fitter and turner, Joan took a deep faith in social justice and from her mother Beryl, a music teacher, she learned to believe women could do anything,” he said.
She had a wicked sense of humour, hated pomposity and loved the Essendon AFL club, Shorten said.
“We salute Joan Kirner’s decades of selfless service, passionate advocacy and unconquerable resolve.”
Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said her legacy would live on.
“Vale Joan Kirner. A woman of principle, courage and determination,” Senator Wong tweeted.
Kristina Keneally, NSW’s first female premier, said Kirner was a strong leader in tough times and a champion for women.
“She showed me great kindness and encouragement, which I treasured,” she tweeted.
Tony Abbott, the prime minister, said Kirner made her mark on Victoria and Australia.
“On behalf of the Commonwealth government, I extend our condolences to her family and friends,” he said in a statement.
Daniel Andrews, the Victorian Labor premier, said the state was sad to farewell a great friend.
“She was our first female premier. Because of her work, she won’t be the last,” he tweeted.
Natasha Stott Despoja, former Democrats leader, said Kirner had to contend with ridiculous stereotypes.
“From the polka dot dress (that she never wore) to the fact that some male cartoonists could never get her likeness right as they were not used to female political leaders,” she said.
Kirner had been supportive of the former senator’s entry into politics.
“She showed that women in politics were multifaceted: that we could sing and dance and have a laugh,” Stott Despoja said.
Kirner, who was in office from 1990 to 1992, replaced John Cain at the tail end of the Labor government’s third term. She was defeated by Jeff Kennett in a landslide election in October 1992.
Her family released a statement saying they were saddened to announce Kirner passed away on Monday after a long battle with illness. She had been diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in 2013 and was receiving chemotherapy.
A member of the Socialist Left faction, Kirner entered state parliament as the Legislative Council member for Melbourne West in 1982 and moved to the Legislative Assembly seat of Williamstown in 1988.
As the minister for conservation, forest and lands (1985-1988), she was integrally involved in the formation of Landcare, while she oversaw the introduction of the Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) while minister for education between 1988 and 1990.
She was leader of the opposition from October 1992 before retiring from the Victorian parliament in 1994.
Prior to entering parliament, she had been a teacher and was president of the Victorian federation of states school parents’ clubs from 1971 to 1977 and its executive officer from 1978 to 1982.
Kirner was part of a group Labor women who established Emily’s List Australia in 1996 to provide financial, personal and mentoring support to progressive Labor women candidates.
Kirner is survived by her husband Ron, children Michael, David, and Kate.
Tributes from across the political spectrum have flowed in with the federal Labor leader, Bill Shorten, saying Kirner was a “dauntless warrior for social democracy” and a “leader of the march of women through institutions of power”.
“Joan Kirner’s was a life lived for the transformative power of education: as a community advocate, parliamentarian, minister and premier of Victoria,” he said.
Shorten said she would be remembered as a mentor and inspiration for countless women including Australia’s first female prime minister Julia Gillard.
“From her father Keith, a fitter and turner, Joan took a deep faith in social justice and from her mother Beryl, a music teacher, she learned to believe women could do anything,” he said.
She had a wicked sense of humour, hated pomposity and loved the Essendon AFL club, Shorten said.
“We salute Joan Kirner’s decades of selfless service, passionate advocacy and unconquerable resolve.”
Labor frontbencher Penny Wong said her legacy would live on.
“Vale Joan Kirner. A woman of principle, courage and determination,” Senator Wong tweeted.
Kristina Keneally, NSW’s first female premier, said Kirner was a strong leader in tough times and a champion for women.
“She showed me great kindness and encouragement, which I treasured,” she tweeted.
Tony Abbott, the prime minister, said Kirner made her mark on Victoria and Australia.
“On behalf of the Commonwealth government, I extend our condolences to her family and friends,” he said in a statement.
Daniel Andrews, the Victorian Labor premier, said the state was sad to farewell a great friend.
“She was our first female premier. Because of her work, she won’t be the last,” he tweeted.
Natasha Stott Despoja, former Democrats leader, said Kirner had to contend with ridiculous stereotypes.
“From the polka dot dress (that she never wore) to the fact that some male cartoonists could never get her likeness right as they were not used to female political leaders,” she said.
Kirner had been supportive of the former senator’s entry into politics.
“She showed that women in politics were multifaceted: that we could sing and dance and have a laugh,” Stott Despoja said.
No comments:
Post a Comment