25 Facts About Joan Kirner

Joan Elizabeth Kirner was an Australian politician who was the 42nd Premier of Victoria, serving from 1990 to 1992.

Joan Kirner was Australia's third female head of government and second female premier, Victoria's first, and held the position until her party was defeated in a landslide at the 1992 state election.

Joan Kirner graduated in arts from the University of Melbourne, and completed a teaching qualification.

Joan Kirner taught in state schools and became active in school and parents' organisations.

Joan Kirner was President of the Victorian Federation of States School Parents' Clubs, an influential education lobby from 1971 to 1977 and its executive officer from 1978 to 1982.

Joan Kirner was appointed to several government advisory bodies on education.

Joan Kirner joined the Labor Party in 1978 and became a member of its Socialist Left faction.

Joan Kirner proposed the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988, the first Australian legislation, which gave legal protection of rare species.

At the 1988 election, Joan Kirner shifted to the Legislative Assembly, becoming MP for Williamstown, and was promoted to the Education portfolio.

Later in 1988 Joan Kirner was elected deputy leader of the party and became Deputy Premier of Victoria.

When Cain resigned after a collapse in his political support in August 1990, Joan Kirner was elected Labor leader and thus became Victoria's first female Premier.

The party hoped that the elevation of a popular woman as its new leader would improve its position, but Joan Kirner never succeeded in gaining control of the crisis into which the state had plunged.

Joan Kirner was lampooned alternatively as a sinister commissar and as a frumpy housewife in a polka-dot dress.

Joan Kirner seemed unfazed by the Herald Sun and gradually won some respect, though she was unable to improve the government's standing significantly.

Joan Kirner went into 1992 knowing she faced a statutory general election, one which opinion polls gave her virtually no chance of winning.

Joan Kirner remained Opposition Leader for a short period before resigning.

Joan Kirner retired from Parliament in 1994 and was succeeded by one of her former aides for the electorate of Williamstown, future premier Steve Bracks.

Joan Kirner was one of the leaders of the movement in the Labor Party to adopt a policy of setting targets for the number of women candidates in winnable electorates.

From January 2006, Joan Kirner was the Chair of the Ministerial Advisory Committee for Victorian Communities.

Joan Kirner was a board member of Museum Victoria, operators of Melbourne Museum, Royal Exhibition Building, Scienceworks Museum and Immigration Museum, Melbourne.

Joan Kirner was a long-time advocate of abortion law reform to legalise abortion.

Joan Kirner was an avid supporter of the Essendon Football Club.

Joan Kirner revealed that she had osteoporosis and was blind in one eye.

Joan Kirner died on 1 June 2015,19 days short of her 77th birthday.

On 1 January 2001, Joan Kirner was awarded the Centenary Medal.