Former Victorian premier dies
JOHN Cain, Victoria’s longest-serving Labor premier, has died at the age of 88.
Mr Cain was a state Labor MP for 16 years and served as premier of Victoria from 1982 until 1990.
He suffered a stroke on December 10 and had been in hospital since.
“It is with great sadness that we advise that John Cain passed away overnight,” his family said in a statement yesterday. “We are grateful John enjoyed good health and remained very active prior to his stroke. He is much loved and admired by his family and will be greatly missed.”
Former Victorian Labor premier Steve Bracks paid tribute to the man who ended a 27year run of Liberal governments in Victoria, becoming the first Labor premier since his father John (Jack) Cain.
“He was an honourable man. He was decent. He gave his all to public life,” he said.
“He’s a great figure in Victoria, a great premier, a great Labor leader, and he will be sorely missed.”
Mr Bracks had seen Mr Cain just a week before his stroke, at the opening of the state library’s refurbished hall.
“John was erudite, he was smart, he was intellectually bright as he always was. He looked fit and healthy, so it’s a great shock that he has now departed us,” he said.
The former premier’s legacy included reforms in conservation and national parks, gender equality, affirmative action, prostitution and liquor, Mr Bracks said.
Mr Cain also installed lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, developed the Southbank precinct and moved the tennis from suburban Kooyong to Melbourne Park.
“He was the one who set Victoria up significantly for the future,” Mr Bracks said.