Bridie Jabour and agencies

theguardian.com, Monday 10 November 2014

Labor politician held state’s top job from 1989 to 1996, ending 32 years of the old National party’s rule in Queensland

Wayne Goss, former Labor premier of Queensland. Photograph: AAP

The former Queensland premier Wayne Goss has been remembered as “the light at the end of the tunnel” and for his huge social reform agenda as the Labor party mourns his death.

Goss had been in ill health in recent years and had undergone surgery for brain tumours. The death of the 63-year-old was announced on Monday morning with people from all sides of politics paying tribute to the “thoroughly decent man”.

In December 1989, he became Queensland’s first Labor premier in 32 years, ending the old National party’s long grip on power that had been dominated by Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Rob Schwarten, who was a backbencher in the Goss government and went on to become a minister in subsequent Queensland Labor governments, said Goss’s election was the most exciting time in his political life.

“I remember [former deputy premier] Tom Burns at the time say he’d have to eat a case of lemons to get the smile of his face, the group of people who went in there, most of whom went on to ministerial careers, there was a really talented group of people who came in and there was a burst of change,” he told radio station 4BC.

“You tell kids today that it was illegal to be a homosexual in Queensland prior to 1989 and they look at you disbelievingly, that’s just one of the things and of course Goss is credited with a huge social agenda.

He added: “The house sat until 3am and 4am day after day after day to tackle these social reforms, everything from gun laws to prostitution reform and so the list went on.”

Schwarten said Goss had died too soon and would be remembered as the “light at the end of the tunnel” after breaking more than three decades of conservative reign in Queensland. He said Goss was not given enough credit for his economic reforms saying Queensland’s budget had been left in “shambles” by Bjelke-Petersen.

“[He was] a very shy man in real terms, often confused with arrogance. He was a thoroughly decent man … he was a deep man I think, a great thinker, a great orator. Certainly his passion for change and to bring about a better Queensland can’t be underestimated,” Schwarten said.

Among Goss’s reforms were ending the gerrymander, decriminalising homosexuality and introducing a raft of protection measures to safeguard Queensland’s natural environment.

He kept the top job until February 1996, when the Mundingburra by-election caused Labor to lose its majority and power on the floor of parliament.

Goss had been preselected to run against maverick independent Pauline Hanson at the 1998 federal election but his first brain tumour ended that career option.

The current Liberal National party premier, Campbell Newman, said he was saddened to hear of Goss’s death and observed a minute’s silence in a cabinet meeting where he was informed of the death along with his ministerial colleagues.

“Wayne was a true leader who guided his party and the state through a turbulent time in Queensland’s history,” he said in a statement.

“He drove much-needed reform in many aspects of Queensland’s public life, including social policy, electoral laws and reform of the police service and broader public service.

“He did so with tenacity, determination and courage. Those attributes were also very much at the forefront as he battled cancer.”

Newman has offered Goss’s family a state funeral.

Goss is survived by his wife Roisin, and adult children Ryan and Caitlin, who released a statement mourning Goss as a father and former premier.

“As a family we mourn the man we love; as Queenslanders we join with so many others in gratitude for everything Wayne did for our community and our state,” it said.

“In Wayne’s own words from 1996, ‘Thank you, Queensland. You’ve been good to me. I hope I’ve left you a better place’.

“We and the extended family are immensely thankful to Dr Bruce Hall and all of Wayne’s medical team for their excellent care, and to all those who have sent their well wishes during Wayne’s illness.”

The leader of the Labor opposition party in Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said Goss would be remembered as one of the great premiers of the state.

“Not only did he lead the Labor party back into government in 1989 after 32 years in the wilderness, he led a government that changed forever the face of our state and the expectations of Queenslanders,” she said.

“His initiatives in areas such as education, health, the environment, and accountability set new and higher standards for our state.”

Tony Fitzgerald, the retired judge whose landmark inquiry into government and police corruption in Queensland helped usher in a new political age, paid tribute to Goss as the state’s key political reformer in modern times.

“Wayne Goss was a man of uncompromising integrity and an outstanding Queenslander whom I greatly admired,” Fitzgerald told Guardian Australia.

Fitzgerald said he first met Goss during the corruption inquiry in meetings held with then premier Mike Ahern and Liberal party leader Anguss Innes.

“All three provided essential support then and, after he became premier, Wayne’s leadership produced the reforms which transformed the state,” Fitzgerald said.

“Like most political reformers, he paid a heavy price.”

Fitzgerald said he had shared a meal with Goss and his wife a few months ago and said Goss was already gravely ill at the time.

Terry Mackenroth, who was a minister in the Goss government and served as deputy premier and treasurer under Peter Beattie, said he last spoke to Goss a few months ago.

He said he was deeply saddened to hear of the death of the former premier, who would be remembered for his reforms.

“He was a good premier, he brought a great deal of discipline to government and he brought in many reforms that are still in place today,” Mackenroth said.

“His reforms put us in good stead for many years to come.”

Federal opposition leader Bill Shorten said Goss was a “lifelong champion for social justice” and it was a very sad day for the Labor party.

He reflected that Goss was driven to politics after becoming enraged at the dismissal of former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam.

“Like Gough before him, Wayne would go on to achieve a drought-breaking electoral triumph, bringing with it a mandate for landmark progressive reforms,” Shorten said in a statement.

“His victory in the 1989 state election marked a new era – an end to the malaise and corruption that had eaten away at Queensland’s democracy in the final stretch of 32 years of Conservative rule.”

Wayne Goss, former Queensland premier, dies at 63 | Australia news | theguardian.com