Australian politician.
A former teacher (with an Arts degree from the University of Melbourne and a teaching certification), Kirner joined the Australian Labor Party in 1978, aligning herself with its Socialist Left faction.
She was elected as a Labor member of the Victorian Legislative Council (the upper house) in 1982. In 1985, as a member of John Cain's cabinet as Minister for Conservation, Forests and Lands, she proposed the first Australian legislation to legally protect rare species (the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988).
In 1988, Kirner was elected Deputy Premier. When Cain resigned in 1990, she was elected party leader, thereby becoming Premier of Victoria (Australia's second female premier, and the first Victorian female premier).
Kirner retired from politics in 1994, but remained active in community affairs and politics.
