Jane Garrett’s great courage

COURAGE and integrity have long been the hallmarks of former emergency services minister Jane Garrett.

Former Victorian Emergency Services Minister Jane Garrett. Picture: David Caird

COURAGE and integrity have long been the hallmarks of former emergency services minister Jane Garrett.

Never has she needed those qualities more than in 2016, a year which saw her resign from the ministry over the explosive Country Fire Authority versus the United Firefighters Union workplace agreement issue and later battle breast cancer.

JANE GARRETT’S FOCUS ON HOPE, GRATITUDE AND POLITICS AFTER HORROR YEAR

INSIDE JANE GARRETT’S CANCER BATTLE AND WHAT INSPIRED HER COMEBACK

The UFU seemed to think it could get whatever it wanted from the Andrews Government simply because it gave very prominent public support to Labor during the lead-up to the last state election.

While Premier Daniel Andrews showed all the signs of being prepared to give in to every UFU demand, Ms Garrett demonstrated she was made of sterner stuff by refusing to let the UFU walk over her and the CFA volunteers she stood up for.

The Herald Sun was at the forefront of exposing the Premier’s unwise decision to side with the UFU bully boys.

Mr Andrews’ unwavering support for the UFU’s extravagant log of claims left many Victorians wondering if he had promised that support in return for the UFU backing him during the election campaign.

The Premier’s UFU stance resulted in the resignations of Ms Garrett and CFA chief executive Lucinda Nolan, as well as the sacking of the CFA board.

In an interview with the Herald Sun’s Wendy Tuohy, Ms Garrett today speaks out for the first time about that tumultuous year in her political and personal life.

“My family and I drew much strength and hope from the beautiful messages we received from all over Victoria,” she said.

“In the darkest moments, we felt compassion and love.”

Typical of the grace and dignity Ms Garrett has shown throughout her distinguished career, she has resisted the temptation to criticise those who contributed to her decision to resign.

That she’s beaten the cancer and is now back in parliament working for her Brunswick constituents is a credit to her toughness and character.

Mr Andrews’ unwavering support for the UFU’s extravagant log of claims left many Victorians wondering if he had promised that support in return for the UFU backing him during the election campaign. Picture: Nicole Garmston

Ms Garrett is one of the few politicians of any persuasion — at any level of government — to have fearlessly stood by their principles.

She is a loyal and rusted-on Labor person, having been a long-term party supporter, political staffer and politician, and yet she was willing to sacrifice all that by not backing the bad policy her party was following during the UFU dispute.

In doing so, by defending the CFA and its thousands of volunteers, she sacrificed her ministerial career.

The Herald Sun applauds her for sticking with what she knew to be right in the face of pressure to ignore her beliefs and ditch the CFA in favour of the UFU.

Ms Garrett reveals in the Herald Sun on Monday that she never considered leaving politics, despite the bullying and harassment she received during the UFU dispute.

“I believe in it. You do change people’s lives. My passion (for politics) is absolutely still there,” she said.

Hopefully, the Premier will recognise the value of harnessing that passion by elevating her to a higher position than the lowly one she now holds.

Ms Garrett still has much to offer and shouldn’t be left languishing on the backbench.

We need strong politicians with integrity, something Ms Garrett has in spades.

She stands out as a beacon in an era when the trust Australians have in their elected representatives is at an all-time low as a result of the weasel words they all too frequently spit out and the rorts and backflips that characterise many of them.

It’s been 170 days since Luke Beveridge led his Western Bulldogs to a remarkable drought-breaking premiership win.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

JUST three more sleeps to go before the ball bounces on a much anticipated 2017 AFL Premiership season.

The new women’s competition has been a compelling off-season surprise in the 170 days since Luke Beveridge led his Bulldogs to a remarkable drought-breaking premiership win.

But now, with the Bombers back at full strength and Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney all grown up, it’s finally time to raise the curtain on what should prove to be one of the most competitive seasons in memory.

Will Essendon shake off its tumultuous past?

Will Nathan Buckley’s Pies finally deliver or will he be the first coach to feel the heat this season?

Will Jarryd Roughead’s return rejuvenate an ageing Hawthorn?

Will GWS prove to be the irresistible flag favourites many have already tagged them as?

Or, can the Bulldogs’ fairytale continue and the return of captain Robert Murphy spur the men of the west to a second successive flag?

And, who will challenge Patrick Dangerfield as the AFL’s best player in 2017? Herald Sun chief football writer Mark Robinson today reveals the first of the players he believes will be among the league’s top 50.

The first clash begins on Thursday night at the MCG when two of the most underperforming heavyweights, Carlton and Richmond, battle to boot-start their 2017 seasons.

Got your SuperCoach team sorted? Let the siren sound.