Background

Joan Elizabeth Kirner was born on June 20, 1938, in Essendon, Victoria, Australia. She was a daughter of John K. and Beryl E. Hood.

"Dad was a great advocate for social justice and a very quiet advocate of the essential Labor values," Kirner once told an interviewer.

"Mum was an absolutely determined woman. She was determined I would have a good education, and they went without all sorts of things to ensure it."

Education

Joan Kirner attended the selective University High School. She graduated from the University of Melbourne to teach in state schools.

Career

Joan Kirner started her career as a teacher of English and social studies at a technical school in 1959-1960. From 1973 to 1978 she was a member of Australian Schools Commission. She also was a member of UNESCO Education Committee (1973-1978). She worked for Victoria Federation of State Schools parents’ clubs and Australian Council of State Schools organizations and councils on technical and further education, prior to 1982.

She became a member of Australian Labour Party in 1979, and in 1982-1988 she was a member of Victoria Parliament for Melbourne West and Williamstown in 1988-1994. From 1985 to 1988 she took a position of minister for conservation, forests, and lands, in 1988-1990 she was a minister for education, in 1990-1991 she served as a minister for ethnic affairs, and a minister for women’s affairs (1990-1992). She was a deputy premier in 1989-1990.

In 1990 she became the first female premier of Victoria. She was a leader of the opposition in 1992-1994, shadow minister for ethnic affairs and for women’s affairs in 1992-1993.

She is credited with trying to improve the economy while premier. She reined in some spending and took some difficult decisions such as selling the State Bank.

Kirner’s political achievements were significant, but her personal influence makes her a revered Labor figure. It was Kirner who moved in 1994 the resolution to entrench Labor’s affirmative action rule to require women to be preselected in 35% of winnable seats. She was the inaugural co-convenor of Emily’s List, which promotes and mentors progressive women politicians. One of them was Gillard, who has called Kirner “pivotal” to Emily’s List, as well as a friend and mentor. In turn, Kirner was livid at some of the sexism Gillard endured.

From 1994 to 1997 she was a chairperson of the Employment Services Regulatory Authority. She took a position of national chairperson of advisory committee at Centenary of Federation (1994-1995). Also, Kirner became a chairperson of Australian Centre for Equity through Education in 1996. Since 1994 she had been the vice-president of Evatt Foundation. She fit also known as a founder of National Landcare Program.

Achievements

• On 26 January 1980, she was named a Member of the Order of Australia for her community service.
  
  On 1 January 2001, Kirner was awarded the Centenary Medal.
  
  On 11 June 2012, she was named a Companion of the Order of Australia for "eminent service to the Parliament of Victoria and to the community through conservation initiatives, contributions to gender equality, the development of education and training programs and the pursuit of civil rights and social inclusion."
  
  In May 2017 the Victorian Government recognized her legacy by offering 25 scholarships to young women, who will participate in the Joan Kirner Young and Emerging Women Leaders program.
  
  In May 2019, the new specialist maternity and pediatric centre at Sunshine Hospital was named the Joan Kirner Women's and Children's Hospital.
  
  One of two tunnel boring machines (TBM) to be utilised on the Metro Tunnel project is named Joan, in honor of Kirner. This TBM was officially launched on 15 August 2019.

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Women's Power Handbook 1999

Politics

Joan Kirner became active in the Victorian Federation of State School Parents’ Clubs, serving as its president from 1971 to 1977 and its executive officer until 1982. In 1980 she was awarded the AM for community service. Four years after joining the Labor Party, aligning herself with its socialist left faction, she entered the Legislative Council in 1982. On the front bench of the Cain government, she promoted environmental initiatives including Landcare. Having been elected to the Legislative Assembly for the seat of Williamstown, she took on the education portfolio, in which she was notably effective, phasing in the Victorian Certificate of Education and increasing retention rates.

In August 1990 she replaced John Cain as Premier, but in 1992 she was replaced by Liberal Jeff Kennett. After leaving parliament Kirner was president of the Victorian Australian Labor Party, remaining active in social justice and the environment and strongly supportive of progressive women in politics. She fought for abortion rights for more than 30 years.

In 2008, Kirner stood in line in state parliament to ask a minister to sign her copy of the Abortion Law Reform Bill, which effectively legalized abortion in the state. “This is a fantastic achievement in the history of the rights of women in Victoria,” she said.

Membership

• 

  Evatt Foundation , Australia

Personality

Kirner usually described as a mentor, good-humored, always gently spoken in public but a terrier for what she believed in. For Kirner, the personal was political – and it set her agenda: women, the environment and education. She understood that what people care about is what connects them, and she dedicated herself to giving other women the confidence to recognize that they had what it takes to be leaders.

Kirner captured hearts with her hilarious rendition of Joan Jett's rock classic 'I Love Rock 'n' Roll'. She belted the tune out in 1993 for ABC's "The Late Show."

Cousin Max Cole said Kirner always fought for justice, even when they were children.

New South Wales's first female premier Kristina Keneally said she was a strong leader in tough times and a champion for women.

Former Labor MP Candy Broad said Ms. Kirner “was tireless in promoting women and community whenever, and wherever, she could.”

Physical Characteristics: Joan Kirner has died after a long battle with oesophageal cancer at the age of 76.

Quotes from others about the person

• "For me, the relationship went beyond one of student and mentor. Joan was the truest of friends. She was one of the dominant influences on my life." - Australia's first female Prime Minister Julia Gillard
  
  "She showed that women in politics were multifaceted: that we could sing and dance and have a laugh," Ms. Stott Despoja said.
  
  “You could do anything after you talked to Joan,” former Labor state secretary Jenny Beacham said.

Interests

• films, music, bush walking, reading

Connections

Joan Hood married Ron Kirner in 1960 and enjoyed almost 55 years of marriage together. They share three children: Michael, David, and Kate.

Father:

John K. Hood

Mother:

Beryl E. Hood

Spouse:

Ron Kirner

Son:

Michael Kirner

Son:

David Kirner

Daughter:

Kate Kirner

Friend:

Julia Eileen Gillard

Friend:

Daniel Andrews

"She was our first female premier. Because of her work, she won't be the last," Daniel Andrews said.

Acquaintance:

Nelson Mandela

References

• Contemporary Authors New Revision Series, Vol. 194
  2010