NSW Greens MLC John Kaye has been praised as vitally important in the fight to save the steel industry, South Coast Labour Council secretary Arthur Rorris said.
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Dr Kaye died of cancer on Monday night, aged 60.
It was revealed in February that Dr Kaye, who was elected to the upper house of the NSW parliament in 2007, had been diagnosed with cancer.
Mr Rorris said Dr Kaye provided crucial support for the mandating of Australian steel in government projects and was instrumental in the Steel Industry Protection bill that fellow Greens member David Shoebridge tabled in parliament in March.
Mr Rorris said it was unlikely the steel campaign would have gotten this far without Dr Kaye’s help.
The best way we can pay tribute to John is to keep fighting for the things he had the courage to advance.
- Arthur Rorris
“I think it would have been very difficult,” Mr Rorris said.
“Last year, particularly when we started the campaign, mandating steel was a dirty word in parliament, both in NSW and Canberra.
“From there we are now in a position where we’ve got great cooperation between Labor, independents, Greens and others to push for the mandating of steel in NSW.
“There’s no doubt that without John that job would have been so much tougher, maybe not even possible at all.
“He was the one with the guts and the vision early on to back us in. He will be very, very sadly missed.”
Mr Rorris said Dr Kaye was a “leader in defending Australian industries”.
“We need to press ahead and the best way we can pay tribute to John is to keep fighting for the things he had the courage to advance,” Mr Rorris said.
The Greens announced Dr Kaye passed away in his home on Monday night after a battle with cancer.
“Our thoughts today are with John's partner Lynne, his sister and brothers Dina, Andrew and Stephen and their families,” Mr Shoebridge said..
NSW Premier Mike Baird said in a statement he was “deeply saddened to learn of the death of John Kaye”.
“He was a formidable advocate of the causes in which he believed,” Mr Baird said.
“Despite our political differences I regarded him as a friend."
NSW Labor leader Luke Foley described Dr Kaye as one of the state's most formidable politicians.
“He made an impact by dint of great intellect and sheer relentless energy,” Mr Foley said.