Wayne Goss
Wayne Keith Goss (26 February 1951 – 10 November 2014) was Premier of Queensland from 7 December 1989 until 19 February 1996, becoming the first Labor Premier of the state in over thirty two years. Prior to entering politics, Goss was a solicitor, and after leaving politics he served as Chairman of the Queensland Art Gallery and Chairman of Deloitte Australia.
This article is about the former Premier of Queensland. For the makeup artist and YouTube personality, see Wayne Goss (make-up artist).
Wayne Goss
Position established
Tom Burns
Tom Burns
Neville Warburton
New seat
10 November 2014 (aged 63)
Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
2
Allan James Goss
Norma Josephine Dalton Goss
- Lawyer
- Politician
Early life[edit]
He was born at Mundubbera, Queensland, and grew up at Inala where he was educated at Inala State High School and the University of Queensland where he earned a bachelor of laws degree.[1] He worked as a solicitor and then with the Aboriginal Legal Service before setting up his own practice, but did not become a member of the Australian Labor Party until the dismissal of Gough Whitlam in November 1975.[1]
Post-political career[edit]
After his retirement from politics, Goss served in a variety of community and business roles. He was awarded an MBA at the University of Queensland.[16] Goss was also awarded honorary doctorates (DUniv) by QUT and Griffith University.[2]
Goss was Chairman of the Queensland Art Gallery for 3 terms from 1999 until 2008, a period which included the development of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art (GoMA),[18] and served a term as a Director of the Brisbane Broncos NRL rugby league team.[19]
Goss received a Centenary Medal in 2001.[20]
In business, Goss served as National Chairman of the Australian section of Deloitte from 2005–2013.[21] Goss was also Chairman of engineering firm Ausenco from 2002 until 2013.[22] From 2003 to 2007, Goss was on the board of Ingeus Limited, the company founded by Thérèse Rein, the wife of former Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, his former chief-of-staff.[23] Further, Goss was Chairman of FreeTV Australia, the lobby group representing the free-to-air television companies in Australia, from 2008 until 2011.[24]
Goss was also an Ambassador of the Australian Indigenous Education Foundation,[25] and a member of a business task force dealing with the aftermath of the 2010-11 Queensland floods.[26]
Family[edit]
He lived in Brisbane with his wife, Roisin (née Hirschfeld). Roisin's father was Konrad Hirschfeld (a Rhodes Scholar in 1927) and her grandfather Eugen Hirschfeld (a member of the first University of Queensland Senate in 1910).[27] Wayne and Roisin Goss had two children, Ryan and Caitlin, both of whom attended the University of Queensland and were awarded Rhodes Scholarships to attend the University of Oxford in 2007 and 2009 respectively.[28][29]
Death, funeral and legacy[edit]
Goss battled a recurrent brain tumour for 17 years, undergoing four operations to manage it. He died aged 63 at his home in Brisbane on 10 November 2014, with his wife and children present.[30]
Condolence motions were moved in the Queensland Parliament[31] and in the Parliament of Australia.[32]
In marking Goss' death, former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd described Goss as Queensland's "greatest postwar Premier";[33] former Premier Peter Beattie described Goss as "Labor’s best premier since TJ Ryan in 1915";[34] former Premier Anna Bligh stated that "Wayne Goss was the father of modern Queensland".[35] The then Liberal National Premier Campbell Newman acknowledged Goss' "amazing contribution to Queensland".[35]
Instead of a state funeral,[36] a private funeral was held, and a public memorial service was organised by the family at the upper level open spaces areas of the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art.[37] Goss's wife Roisin shared recollections about his life as a private citizen and his favourite saying at family gatherings or just lounging outside on a sunny day: "This Is Good". Close friend and former State Attorney-General, the Hon. Matt Foley gave a detailed testimonial about Goss's friendship and their days in political office. Over a thousand mourners attended the service, some accommodated in overflow rooms with views to monitors and speakers.[38]
A central building at the Griffith University Logan City campus is named after Goss in recognition of his work as an “education visionary”.[39] The rainforest tree genus Gossia in the myrtle family is named after Wayne Goss in honour of his conservation work.[40]