DEATH OF THE HONOURABLE JAMES ALEXANDER BACON, FORMER PREMIER OF TASMANIA
Page: 9811
Ministerial Statement
Mr BOB CARR (Maroubra—Premier, Minister for the Arts, and Minister for Citizenship) [2.18 p.m.]: The late James Alexander Bacon, the former Premier of Tasmania, lived the life of many of his Labor generation: a childhood marred by tragedy, student radicalism, anti-Vietnam war activity and aggressive organisation of the trade union movement. After what seemed to be a sea change in his thirties he moved to Tasmania, his new-found land, which he loved, his wife said on Sunday, "as much as he loved me". Jim eventually found his way into Parliament and very quickly, within two years, became one of Tasmania's most successful Premiers. He found the State an economic basket case, with young people leaving daily. He turned around what many saw its inevitable decline. He set about doing this very quietly, unflamboyantly achieving an economic and social miracle. Tasmania's population is growing again, its tourist business is booming, the brain drain is staunched and the ferries are restored. What seemed an inevitable decline is again a growing concern.
Like many of his generation Jim Bacon was keen to improve society, careless of personal gain and his student radicalism mellowing into an embrace of practical measurable reform. Also like many of his generation Jim chain-smoked. He knew he should not and was unsurprised when the habit brought on his early death at 54 years of age. "I was an idiot", he said, refusing to make some sort of ideological fuss of his own sad passing. The beautiful island State of Tasmania will for decades be beholden to Jim Bacon, a good man who came and stayed a while and did remarkable things. He was a great conciliating force, a local hero whose too few years were well spent and whose unfeigned goodness and gallantry at life's end we will remember for years to come. I know all members of the House join with me in offering heartfelt condolences to Jim's widow, Honey, his sons, Mark and Scott, his stepson, Shane, and to the people of Tasmania.
Mr JOHN BROGDEN (Pittwater—Leader of the Opposition) [2.22 p.m.]: The Coalition joins in very sorrowful fashion with the Premier in extending to the Bacon family and the people of Tasmania our condolences on the death of former Premier Jim Bacon. The people of New South Wales, indeed all Australians who observed the events since the announcement of his retirement, were shocked by the seriousness of his illness and, particularly, the short passage of time from his stepping down as Premier to his sad death just a few days ago. I praise the late Jim Bacon for his message to anyone who might think there is any benefit from smoking: Do not take it up. It has no benefit whatsoever.
I am sure that along with his significant public achievements—which the Premier put on record, and the Coalition acknowledges—Jim and his family would hope a strong message would come from his sad death: do not smoke; never take it up, because it can be very hard to drop the habit; and live a healthier life. Coalition members join with the Government in expressing our condolences to the Bacon family. The Premier of Tasmania holds a unique position in being well-known in an island State. I am sure every citizen, whether or not they voted for Jim Bacon, or whether or not they thought highly of him or not, is very much touched and saddened by his passing.