Ministerial Statement

Kirner, Hon. J.E.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (14:20): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement, 'Rock on, Joan Kirner.'

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.E. GAGO: Last Monday, Joan Kirner, the first female Premier of Victoria and lifelong advocate for women's political representation and for social justice, passed away at the age of 76. An inspirational and tireless supporter for a whole generation of Labor women, Joan Kirner leaves behind a wonderful legacy, not just of political firsts and political achievements but of a warm, engaging and witty woman whose company was a delight to all who met and knew her.

An only child from a working class family in Essendon, on the wrong side of the Yarra, Joan grew up to be a school teacher. In fact, access to quality education was to become a constant theme in her life, and one of her greatest political legacies was the establishment of the Victorian Certificate of Education. In the early 1970s, Joan became president of the Victorian Federation of State School Parents Clubs and it was in this unlikely sounding role that she became recognised as a formidable advocate for education. This in turn led to her election as a Labor member of parliament in 1982.

Her parliamentary career culminated in her elevation to the role of Premier of Victoria following the resignation of John Cain. Having been a resident of Victoria around that time, I still recall the thrill of a woman becoming premier. Joan embodied a spirit that was optimistic and often disarmingly ordinary and accessible for a politician, yet beneath it there was a dauntless, unrelenting determination. She was an inspiration to me in those days and will remain one to me for the rest of my life.

Her two years as Premier were challenging (to use the classic political understatement) but never dull. The 1992 Victorian election was won in a landslide by Jeff Kennett and Joan subsequently quit parliamentary life a year later. But Joan was not defeated, nor did she slide gracefully into quiet retirement. If anything, it was to be possibly the most productive period of her life, which included the development of a rock'n'roll career. Who can forget her in her leather jacket clad cover version of 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll' by Joan Jett? She is a reminder to all female politicians in particular that it should be possible for us to be able to sing, dance and laugh as well as making a real difference and making real change for the better in the world.

Joan immeasurably changed the Australian political landscape, through her role as one of the key founders of Emily's List in the mid-1990s. This organisation, to support the election of progressive women to power, has assisted more than 400 women in state and federal elections. For the first nine years of Emily's List, Joan was essentially the unpaid CEO of the organisation. Her phenomenal hard work and her visionary stewardship were vital to the creation of Emily's List as the powerful political force it is today.

There are many women in power today who this week will be thinking of Joan with deep fondness for her tireless efforts. One of those women who benefited from Emily's List, including myself, of course was Julia Gillard, our first female prime minister, who has written movingly of the friendship and inspiration that Joan provided her.

Joan understood the particularly harsh and sometimes deeply personal criticism so often thrown at women political leaders in this country. Joan reminded us that we can and must rise above such shallow and vindictive behaviour. Her wicked wit, her empathy, her ability to light up a room with her warmth and, above all, her deep generosity of spirit showed us how we can triumph above such barriers. We won't forget Joan—rock on, Joan Kirner.