Wayne Goss and former Prime Minister Paul Keating have a beer at a Charleville pub in 1994. Credit:Andrew Taylor "As a family we mourn the man we love; as Queenslanders we join with so many others in gratitude for everything Wayne did for our community and our state." "In Wayne's own words from 1996, 'Thank you, Queensland. You've been good to me. I hope I've left you a better place'." "We and the extended family are immensely thankful to Dr Bruce Hall and all of Wayne's medical team for their excellent care, and to all those who have sent their well wishes during Wayne's illness." Queensland Premier Campbell Newman has offered the family a state funeral.

Goss was a man of integrity: Tony Fitzgerald

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Family statement in full In December 1989, he became Queensland's first Labor premier in 32 years, ending the old National Party's long grip on power that had been dominated by Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. He kept the top job until February 1996, when the Mundingburra by-election caused Labor to lose its majority and power on the floor of parliament. Mr Goss had been pre-selected to run against maverick independent Pauline Hanson at the 1998 federal election but his first brain tumour ended that career option. Former Labor minister Robert Schwarten said Mr Goss died overnight.

Mr Schwarten, who was a backbencher in the Goss government, said the former premier had been in poor health in recent years. He is survived by his wife Roisin and two adult children Ryan and Caitlin. Mr Goss, whose former chief of staff was Kevin Rudd, underwent at least four operations for brain tumours over 17 years. He paved the way Former Queensland premier Peter Beattie said Queensland had lost a great Australian.

"He cleaned up Queensland corruption, reformed government and paved the way for a better Qld," Mr Beattie said. "He will be remembered for his honesty and integrity." . 'He was a good premier' Terry Mackenroth, who was a minister in the Goss government and served as deputy premier and treasurer under Peter Beattie, said he last spoke to Mr Goss a few months ago. He said he was deeply saddened to hear of the death of the former premier, who would be remembered for his reforms.

"He was a good premier, he brought a great deal of discipline to government and he brought in many reforms that are still in place today," Mr Mackenroth said. "His reforms put us in good stead for many years to come." Among his reforms were ending the gerrymander, decriminalising homosexuality and introducing a raft of protection measures to safeguard Queensland's natural environment. Goss learnt the lessons of the Gough Whitlam government Former Goss minister Keith De Lacy, who served as his Treasurer, said Wayne Goss learnt the lessons of Gough Whitlam's government.

"We were students of politics, so we remembered the Whitlam experience which, talk about modernising and changing, and all the chaos that went with it," he said. "And certainly the loss of fiscal control – and we were determined that that was not going to happen with us. And it didn't. "But what a massive challenge to do all those kinds of things. I mean, coming in to government at any time is difficult, but after a generation without a Labor government, it was a big challenge." He said Mr Goss was "up there with the very best in Australia". "He was one of the most intelligent and articulate people I have ever met, I think most people would say that. A very good speaker, a very good debater, he was good at getting his message across," he said.

"I guess I admire him more than virtually any other politician I had met." 'A great Queenslander, a great friend' Goss government cabinet minister and friend David Hamill said Wayne Goss reshaped the face of Queensland. "Wayne Goss was a great leader, a great Queenslander and a great friend," Mr Hamill said. "Our family's thoughts and prayers go with his family at this time."

Mr Hamill - who served as treasurer, transport and education minister and was minister assisting the premier during the Goss government era from late 1989 into 1996 - said Mr Goss contributed greatly to modern Queensland. "Wayne's legacy is a tremendous one," Mr Hamill said. "He re-shaped the face of Queensland and bought integrity back to government in this state," he said. Mr Hamill said Mr Goss's full achievements were numerous and would be realised over time. "But the ones that I think had the most profound over Queensland, were the ones that saw integrity come back to government in the state," he said.

"Tony Fitzgerald made a tremendous contribution with the Fitzgerald report," he said. "But it was Wayne Goss and Wayne Goss' government that turned a set of recommendations into tangible actions." Mr Hamill listed changes to the electoral system and the way in which "modern-era government" was conducted in Queensland as two important Wayne Goss achievements. 'An enormous list' of reforms Mr Schwarten said Mr Goss was responsible for sweeping social reforms.

"Within a year it was no longer illegal to be a homosexual, he introduced laws to decriminalise prostitution, he brought in the first gun laws in Queensland," he said "It was just an enormous list. But the thing he's least remembered for is that he got Queensland into the 20th century in terms of financial accountability." "It is a sad day for the Labor Party, Wayne was, I think, a great reforming premier. He became Premier in 89, when, I think Queensland really needed a change – we had had the Fitzgerald Inquiry, which had really shown up the corruption in our whole political process throughout the state and we needed change and Wayne really led that well." 'He wasn't arrogant, he was shy' Mr Mackenroth said Mr Goss was very strong on discipline and ensuring things were done properly.

He brought that into the cabinet room. "Peter was more about having everybody on side and making things happen. I think for their times, when each was in government, they probably had the right approach for it," he said. "Wayne did bring into the cabinet, into government, a very strong discipline about the way you operate and the way you did things and he had great expectations on ministers – there were a number of ministers who were pretty scared of him. "I was lucky I wasn't one of those – Wayne and I had a great working relationship, we worked very, very well together. "People believed sometimes that Wayne was arrogant, he wasn't arrogant, he was shy. When Wayne was with friends, he was absolutely the life of the party. He cracked jokes with the best of them, but out in the public, he never gave that sort of persona, so there was that sense there were two different faces to them, but he was a great person to have as a friend."

A minute's silence The Queensland LNP Cabinet held a minute's silence upon hearing of Mr Goss's passing. Mr Newman has expressed his condolences. "I telephoned Roisin to offer my and Lisa's condolences," Mr Newman said. "Wayne was a true leader who guided his party and the State through a turbulent time in Queensland's history.

"He drove much-needed reform in many aspects of Queensland's public life, including social policy, electoral laws and reform of the police service and broader public service. "Those attributes were also very much at the forefront as he battled cancer. I'm saddened he should have lost that fight at such a young age." And the Queensland Labor Opposition Leader, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said she was deeply saddened by Wayne Goss's death. "He will be remembered as one of the great Premiers of our state," she said in a statement. "Not only did he lead the Labor Party back into government in 1989 after 32 years in the wilderness, he led a government that changed forever the face of our state and the expectations of Queenslanders.

"His initiatives in areas such as education, health, the environment, and accountability set new and higher standards for our state. On behalf of the Parliamentary Labor Party I pass on our thoughts and condolences to Roisin, Ryan, Caitlin and their families." Details on the memorial service are yet to be finalised. Federal colleagues pay tribute Federal Queensland Labor MP Wayne Swan and wife Kim sent their deepest condolences to the Goss family. "In Wayne, we've lost a close friend and Queenslanders have lost one of their finest leaders," Mr Swan said.

"Wayne changed Queensland – the state we love – for the better, and he dragged it into the sunlight after 32 years in the darkness. "Wayne was a leader of deep integrity, clarity of thought and discipline. But above all of this, Wayne and his family were close, personal friends and I will miss him immensely. With his passing, we will remember Wayne as a role model for leadership and integrity and as a man who always held humble Queenslanders close to his heart." Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten described Mr Goss as a "proud Queenslander" who was a "lifelong champion for social justice". "Wayne Goss was a truly great Labor man," Mr Shorten said. "Today is a very sad day for the Labor Party – it's an especially sad day for Labor in Queensland."

- Tony Moore, Amy Remeikis and Danielle Cronin with AAP