FORMER Queensland Premier Wayne Goss has died aged 63.
Seventeen years after his first operation for a brain tumor, the reforming Premier who guided Queensland into the modern era died in the early hours of Monday morning.
Born in 1951 in the tiny town of Mundubbera and raised in Inala, Mr Goss studied law at The University of Queensland before working as a solicitor with the then Aboriginal Legal Service.
He later established himself as a lawyer in private practice before entering politics.
Mr Goss won power on December 7, 1989, replacing then Liberal/National Coalition Premier Russell Cooper and ending 32 years of Coalition rule, much of it under former Premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen.
Wayne Goss (right) and Peter Beattie in 1995. Source: News Limited
He served as Premier until February 1996, guiding major reforms in the wake of the Fitzgerald Inquiry which exposed systemic corruption across the state.
The Goss Government rid the state of the gerrymander, abolished the notorious police “Special Branch’’, decriminalised homosexuality and began a series of reforms to protect the environment.
Ms Goss won a second term in 1992, but before the 1995 election announced a plan for a toll road between Brisbane and the Gold Coast running through the state’s largest remaining koala colony, a key factor in his 1996 defeat.
Queensland Premier Wayne Goss talks to the media in 1996. Source: CourierMail
In post political life he served as Chairman of the Queensland Art Gallery and Chairman of Deloitte Australia.
In April 2014, Mr Goss entered hospital for his fourth brain tumour surgery in 17 years.
The former Premier, whose regular jogging and surf skiing kept him in good physical shape throughout his life, made strong recoveries in the wake of each operation.
Mr Goss is survived by his wife, Roisin, and children Ryan and Caitlin.
Funeral arrangements are to be advised.
Former Premier Wayne Goss has battled brain tumours for 17 years. Source: CourierMail
Wayne Goss battled brain tumours for 17 years. Source: News Corp Australia