Jim Bacon

Jim Bacon died this morning in hospital.

I always had a lot of respect for Jim Bacon - he wasn't in politics for very long, but as Paul Lennon said in his tribute to him, “His time as Premier was relatively short – only five and a half years - but in that time, the face and the social fabric of Tasmania was changed forever.” I think people are now proud to say that they are from Tasmania, whereas in the past it was somewhat of an embarrassment. I also think that this change has a lot to do with the achievements of Jim Bacon. He was, in my very humble and uneducated opinion, an incredible Premier who completely changed the nature of Tasmania during his time in power - for the better.

I think it's a sad day for Tasmania.