Former Victorian Labor MP Jane Garrett honoured in special parliament sitting

The Victorian parliament has held a minute’s silence to honour Jane Garrett after she lost her battle with breast cancer before announcing a date for her state memorial service.

Former Victorian state MP Jane Garrett at home in Melbourne. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

The Victorian government has set a date for former Labor MP Jane Garrett’s state memorial, as parliament paused to remember and honour her life and career.

A public memorial will be held at the Brunswick Town Hall, a suburb north of the Melbourne CBD where six generations of her family lived, on September 2.

Ms Garrett died earlier in July after years of battling breast cancer.

On Wednesday, Premier Daniel Andrews was the first to make remarks about Ms Garrett, remembering her “values and hard work” while some of her family members sat in the public gallery.

Former Victorian MP Jane Garrett with her baby Max. Picture: Stuart McEvoy

“She was progressive and engaged, involved, passionate and insightful. She was born and raised to inspire and create changes in our world, and that is exactly what she did,” Mr Andrews said.

“All the advocacy and all the campaigning that might now happen, all the mentors bringing along acts of kindness to teach and educate and train a new generation, will be all the harder because of Jane’s absence,” he said.

Mr Andrews also conveyed his condolences to Ms Garrett’s family — her husband James and three children Molly, Sasha and Max.

“The contribution that your mum made to this state was big and important,” he said.

“There are workers who will come home safely, people will have dignity and respect, and opportunity and a better future because of the work your mum did.”

Ms Garrett was elected as the Member for Brunswick in 2010. Following her re-election in 2014, she joined the cabinet as Consumer Affairs, Gaming and Liquor Regulation Minister and Emergency Services Minister.

Australian Council of Trade Unions president Ged Kearney with former Brunswick Labor MP Jane Garrett, who died in July. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

She was the daughter of a Baptist minister and a public school teacher, Mr Andrews said.

“Her forebears were local builders, tailors, church elders, and small business owners and her values were shaped from the community where she grew up being involved at the social justice meetings her parents would hold in Brunswick,” he said.

Victorian Opposition Leader Matthew Guy also paid his condolences.

“Jane had the respect of the whole parliament. From this side of the chamber we looked at her as someone who had the ability to go far in a public office – a career not only made for politics,” Mr Guy said.

“It was not a shock when Labor won in 2014 and she went straight into ministry.

“As the Emergency Services Minister, Jane became the hero of so many CFA volunteers, and she remains a “hero to more than 60,000 of them.”

Mr Andrews confirmed he would attend the service but said he did not know yet if he would speak at it.

Doors for the state memorial service will open at 10am.

In lieu of floral tributes and in keeping with Ms Garrett’s passion for community, her family have asked for contributions to be made to the Smith Family.