Jane Garrett’s ability to connect a rare gift, colleagues say as tributes flow in parliament

Victorian MPs have paid tribute to former minister Jane Garrett, remembering her as a “fearless advocate for equality”, as details of her state memorial were announced.

Tributes for former minister Jane Garrett have been shared by colleagues in state parliament.

Former state minister Jane Garrett has been remembered by colleagues as a brave fighter and “fearless advocate for equality” who loved parties and cheesy pop music.

state parliament suspended ordinary business for a condolence motion during which MPs could pay tribute to Ms Garrett, who lost her battle with cancer this year at the age of 49.

Her “bestie” in the parliament’s upper house, MP Mark Gepp, remembered Ms Garrett helping bushfire victims when she was emergency services minister, saying her “ability to connect with people was astonishing”.

In front of family and friends in the public gallery, who watched through tears, Mr Gepp said Ms Garrett and her husband, James, were a powerhouse couple whose greatest legacy were their three children, Molly, Sasha and Max.

“She was a fearless advocate for equality,” he said.

“When Jane was in full flight you just stopped and had to watch.”

Jane Garrett has been described as a ‘fearless advocate for equality’. Picture: David Caird

Mr Gepp said Ms Garrett’s ability to connect with the electorate or “mob”, as it was referred to, was a rare gift.

“The one thing that the mob can spot from a politician is BS, and it was never apparent with Jane Garrett,” he said.

He recalled working for Ms Garrett when she was emergency services minister, before she quit rather than sign a CFA workplace agreement that the United Firefighters Union had wanted rammed through.

He described her as like a “rock star” when she turned up to CFA stations, where she would try to convince the brigades to play her cheesy pop song playlists on Spotify.

Ivanhoe MP and Police Minister Anthony Carbines recalled Ms Garrett’s advocacy for changing sperm donor laws to allow children of donors to see where they came from.

He said he hoped that his late colleague’s children would be comforted in future by people stopping them in the street to thank her for her advocacy.

Jane Garrett in 2017 with her husband, James Higgins, and their children Sasha, Max and Molly. Picture: David Caird

Mr Carbines said the last conversation he had with Ms Garrett – who he referred to as “super great Janey” in memory of their banter – included a commitment to catch up that they both knew may never happen, saying “we had a few laughs and cried a lot”.

The state parliamentary contributions came as details of a state memorial service for Ms Garrett were announced for Brunswick Town Hall on September 2.

The service will be live-streamed on the state government website.

Doors for the State Memorial Service will open at 10am with the service commencing at 11am, and in lieu of floral tributes her family have asked for contributions to be made to the Smith Family at thesmithfamily.com.au/donate.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Opposition Leader Matthew Guy led contributions in the Legislative Assembly, where Ms Garrett was Brunswick MP between 2010 and 2018.

Colleagues say Jane Garrett ‘didn’t do half-measures’ and was a huge talent.

Education Minister Natalie Hutchins remembered sharing a red wine with Ms Garrett and other young MPs when they were first elected to parliament after 2010.

“She told me where to go many times. You could have those arguments and still be friends,” she said. Kew Liberal MP Tim Smith said Ms Garrett was his “best friend” who he met at the age of 25 when tackling the “bongo players” in the Greens party.

He said the pair never agreed on anything but she taught him “you can agree to disagree”.

He said the night that he “disgraced myself” – a reference to when he attempted to drive home while drunk and smashed into a fence – he had been told by Ms Garrett her cancer had come back.

Mr Smith said this was not to excuse himself from his behaviour but that he knew then he would potentially never see her again “and I didn’t”.

Former Attorney-General Martin Pakula remembered Ms Garrett’s passionate support for AFL club Carlton, putting her career in sporting terms by saying she “left everything out there, and left nothing in the locker room”.

He said she “didn’t do half measures” and didn’t pull punches “even in the cause of self preservation”.

“She loved, she laughed, she cried, she hated, she drank, she partied, she fought, she ran, she dealt, she plotted,” he said.

“She was a complete human being with no missing parts. Sometimes all those elements collided and led her into error, but when the tumblers all fell into place, she was as big a talent as you would see in this business.”