Mr ABBOTT (Warringah—Prime Minister) (14:00): Joan Kirner, who has passed away, was a trail blazer in so many respects. She served as the Premier of Victoria from 1990 to 1992. She was Victoria's first female Premier. She took charge of Victorian government at the end of a long term. By that stage, it was a government wracked by recession and scandal, so it was not an easy time to be Premier. But, as Jeff Kennett graciously remarked yesterday: She was sent on a mission beyond anyone's ability to rectify. He went on to say: She did it with vigour and dignity. Before becoming Premier, Joan Kirner held the positions of Minister for Conservation, Minister for Education and Deputy Premier. Back in 1985, she worked with the National Farmers' Federation to establish Landcare. The Landcare movement is very much her enduring policy legacy. Landcare has since been embraced right around Australia, and as an idea it has been exported to some 20 countries. As an early female leader, she was a mentor to many, including Julia Gillard, our nation's first female Prime Minister. In the years since her retirement from parliament, Joan Kirner maintained her community activism, as a Communities Ambassador for Victoria. She also maintained her commitment to supporting women to enter parliament, most notably through the EMILY's List movement, which she co-founded. In 2012, she was named a Companion of the Order of Australia for her eminent service to our country. On behalf of the government, I offer our condolences to her family and her friends.