Bacon was born on 15 May 1950 in Melbourne;[1] his father Frank, a doctor, died when Jim was twelve, leaving him to be raised by his mother Joan. He was educated at Scotch College and later studied politics at Monash University, but did not graduate. At Monash Bacon was a Maoist student leader.[2] Bacon moved to Western Australia and, after taking a job as a labourer, became an official of the Builders Labourers Federation, which then sent him to Tasmania as an organiser. He later became leader of the trade union movement as Secretary of the Tasmanian Trades & Labor Council.
Bacon joined the Tasmanian branch of the Labor Party, and was elected to the House of Assembly in 1996, representing the Hobart-based seat of Denison. He became leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party in 1997 and narrowly won the state election in 1998, defeating the Liberal Party government under Tony Rundle. It was the first Labor majority since 1982. His government was re-elected in 2002 in a landslide victory for his party.
Premier
Bacon's time in office was said to have been hugely successful, for the state economy as a whole, for his popularity with the people of the state, and also for tourism with the introduction of two more Bass Strait ferries, and beginning a ferry run between Devonport and Sydney. (However, the Sydney service has since proven unsuccessful and was discontinued in 2006 due to the majority of New South Wales people not wanting to drive into the heart of Sydney.) He controversially appointed Richard Butler to the office Governor of Tasmania in 2003. One of the Bacon Government's most notable achievements was to wipe out a $1.6 billion state net debt in only six years. Other achievements included huge increases in tourist numbers, leading social policies, partnerships between state and local governments, turning Tasmanian Government entities, such as Hydro Tasmania, into profit-generating businesses (one of the election-winning strategies was to propose this as opposed to selling them), bringing two Australian Football League (AFL) clubs to play regular home and away matches in Tasmania (Hawthorn Football Club and St Kilda Football Club) and improving the general feeling of confidence in individuals and businesses within the state of Tasmania.
Illness and death
On Friday 13 February 2004, Bacon received the diagnosis that he was suffering from inoperable lung cancer.[1] On 23 February 2004, he announced that he would take a four-week leave of absence from his role of Premier so that he could explore treatment options. After news that he had little time left, Bacon stood aside as Premier in March 2004,[1] to spend whatever time was left to him with his family and friends. Paul Lennon, who had been Deputy Premier, succeeded Bacon to become Tasmania's 42nd Premier.
Bacon, a 35-year smoker, died as a result of his cancer on 20 June 2004,[1] at Calvary Hospital in Hobart. A state funeral was held on 24 June;[1] many state and federal politicians (from both major parties) attended, including Liberal Prime Minister John Howard, all the state Premiers, Opposition Leader Mark Latham, former Opposition Leader Simon Crean, and former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.
His appointment as a Companion of the Order of Australia was announced in June 2005 but made effective from 13 May 2004. The Order of Australia is not awarded posthumously, but Bacon had been nominated before his death.[4]
The Jim Bacon Foundation was established in his honour to "provide practical support and financial assistance to cancer patients and their families by making funds available to organisations that offer cancer treatment and palliative care services". The Foundation was absorbed into the Ricky Ponting Foundation in May 2013. The State Government will continue to fund the $30,000 Jim Bacon Memorial Scholarship at the University of Tasmania.[5]
Personal
Jim Bacon had four sisters: Jenny, Wendy, Janet and Mary.
Bacon had a twenty-year partnership with Lynnette Francis, and they had two sons, Mark and Scott. Scott Bacon was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly at the 2010 state election.
Later Bacon married Honey Hogan, who had been a croupier and the public face of Australia's first casino: Wrest Point Hotel Casino when it opened in 1973. That marriage gave him a stepson, Shane.
bacon, politician, james, alexander, bacon, 1950, june, 2004, australian, politician, served, premier, tasmania, from, 1998, 2004, honourablejim, baconac41st, premier, tasmaniaelections, 1998, 2002in, office, september, 1998, march, 2004monarchelizabeth, iigov. James Alexander Bacon AC 15 May 1950 20 June 2004 was an Australian politician who served as Premier of Tasmania from 1998 to 2004 The HonourableJim BaconAC41st Premier of TasmaniaElections 1998 2002In office 14 September 1998 21 March 2004MonarchElizabeth IIGovernorSir Guy GreenRichard ButlerDeputyPaul LennonPreceded byTony RundleSucceeded byPaul LennonLeader of the OppositionIn office 14 April 1997 14 September 1998PremierTony RundlePreceded byMichael FieldSucceeded byTony RundleMember of the Tasmanian House of Assembly for DenisonIn office 24 February 1996 21 March 2004Preceded byJulian AmosSucceeded byDavid BartlettPersonal detailsBorn 1950 05 15 15 May 1950Melbourne Victoria AustraliaDied20 June 2004 2004 06 20 aged 54 Hobart Tasmania AustraliaPolitical partyLaborOther politicalaffiliationsCommunist Party of Australia Marxist Leninist until 1991 Contents 1 Early life 2 Premier 3 Illness and death 4 Honours and legacy 5 Personal 6 References 7 External linksEarly life EditBacon was born on 15 May 1950 in Melbourne 1 his father Frank a doctor died when Jim was twelve leaving him to be raised by his mother Joan He was educated at Scotch College and later studied politics at Monash University but did not graduate At Monash Bacon was a Maoist student leader 2 Bacon moved to Western Australia and after taking a job as a labourer became an official of the Builders Labourers Federation which then sent him to Tasmania as an organiser He later became leader of the trade union movement as Secretary of the Tasmanian Trades amp Labor Council Bacon joined the Tasmanian branch of the Labor Party and was elected to the House of Assembly in 1996 representing the Hobart based seat of Denison He became leader of the Tasmanian Labor Party in 1997 and narrowly won the state election in 1998 defeating the Liberal Party government under Tony Rundle It was the first Labor majority since 1982 His government was re elected in 2002 in a landslide victory for his party Premier EditBacon s time in office was said to have been hugely successful for the state economy as a whole for his popularity with the people of the state and also for tourism with the introduction of two more Bass Strait ferries and beginning a ferry run between Devonport and Sydney However the Sydney service has since proven unsuccessful and was discontinued in 2006 due to the majority of New South Wales people not wanting to drive into the heart of Sydney He controversially appointed Richard Butler to the office Governor of Tasmania in 2003 One of the Bacon Government s most notable achievements was to wipe out a 1 6 billion state net debt in only six years Other achievements included huge increases in tourist numbers leading social policies partnerships between state and local governments turning Tasmanian Government entities such as Hydro Tasmania into profit generating businesses one of the election winning strategies was to propose this as opposed to selling them bringing two Australian Football League AFL clubs to play regular home and away matches in Tasmania Hawthorn Football Club and St Kilda Football Club and improving the general feeling of confidence in individuals and businesses within the state of Tasmania Illness and death EditOn Friday 13 February 2004 Bacon received the diagnosis that he was suffering from inoperable lung cancer 1 On 23 February 2004 he announced that he would take a four week leave of absence from his role of Premier so that he could explore treatment options After news that he had little time left Bacon stood aside as Premier in March 2004 1 to spend whatever time was left to him with his family and friends Paul Lennon who had been Deputy Premier succeeded Bacon to become Tasmania s 42nd Premier Bacon a 35 year smoker died as a result of his cancer on 20 June 2004 1 at Calvary Hospital in Hobart A state funeral was held on 24 June 1 many state and federal politicians from both major parties attended including Liberal Prime Minister John Howard all the state Premiers Opposition Leader Mark Latham former Opposition Leader Simon Crean and former Prime Minister Gough Whitlam Honours and legacy EditIn 2001 Bacon was awarded an honorary citizenship by Xi Jinping then governor of Fujian Province Bacon had first visited China while at university 3 He was posthumously awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws honoris causa from the University of Tasmania in August 2004 His appointment as a Companion of the Order of Australia was announced in June 2005 but made effective from 13 May 2004 The Order of Australia is not awarded posthumously but Bacon had been nominated before his death 4 The Jim Bacon Foundation was established in his honour to provide practical support and financial assistance to cancer patients and their families by making funds available to organisations that offer cancer treatment and palliative care services The Foundation was absorbed into the Ricky Ponting Foundation in May 2013 The State Government will continue to fund the 30 000 Jim Bacon Memorial Scholarship at the University of Tasmania 5 Personal EditJim Bacon had four sisters Jenny Wendy Janet and Mary Bacon had a twenty year partnership with Lynnette Francis and they had two sons Mark and Scott Scott Bacon was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly at the 2010 state election Later Bacon married Honey Hogan who had been a croupier and the public face of Australia s first casino Wrest Point Hotel Casino when it opened in 1973 That marriage gave him a stepson Shane References Edit a b c d e BACON James Alexander Members of the Parliament of Tasmania Retrieved 24 July 2022 Jim Bacon addresses student protesters with Albert Langer Monpix Monash University Welcome Mr President The Mercury 18 November 2014 It s an Honour Archived from the original on 4 March 2016 Retrieved 3 September 2011 Jim Bacon cancer fund winding up ABC News Australian Broadcasting Corporation 22 May 2013 Retrieved 8 April 2019 Jim Bacon s maiden speech to parliament at the Wayback Machine archived 8 May 2004 Ludeke M 2006 Ten Events Shaping Tasmania s History Hobart Ludeke Publishing External links EditDeath of the Honourable James Alexander Bacon former Premier of Tasmania Hansard 22 June 2004 parliament nsw gov au Associates pay tribute to Jim Bacon The selling out of Tasmania The Jim Bacon FoundationPolitical officesPreceded byMichael Field Opposition Leader of Tasmania1997 1998 Succeeded byTony RundlePreceded byTony Rundle Premier of Tasmania1998 2004 Succeeded byPaul LennonParty political officesPreceded byMichael Field Leader of the Labor Party in Tasmania1997 2004 Succeeded byPaul Lennon Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jim Bacon politician amp oldid 1149340122, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
