NSW Greens MP John Kaye will be greatly missed by his family, friends and colleagues – and the renewable energy industry.
Mr. Kaye died on Monday night after a brief battle with a particularly aggressive cancer.
“We are very saddened by this news. John’s loss will be felt deeply by Greens members and supporters across the country who held an enormous amount of respect for his work, particularly in education and renewable energy,” said Australian Greens Leader Richard Di Natale.
John Kaye was elected as a Greens member of the NSW Legislative Council in March 2007. Before his stint in parliament, Mr. Kaye taught and researched electrical engineering at the University of NSW; with a special focus on sustainable energy.
“John Kaye was a tireless champion for public education, a pioneer on renewable energy, a widely respected Member of Parliament, and a highly principled member of our party,” said part of a statement from The Greens NSW Co-convenors Debbie Gibson and Hall Greenland.
A campaign Mr. Kaye was particularly passionate about was 100% Renewable NSW.
Mr. Kaye was known for his boundless energy. As recently as February, he was still taking the fight to New South Wales’ government and warning the state was falling behind on renewables.
“At this rate, the government won’t come close to meeting their modest target of 20 per cent renewable energy by 2020,” he said.
“Without a state focused on boosting clean energy, the federal government’s continued attacks on the renewable energy sector are likely to stall any further move away from a reliance on coal.”
Greens NSW MP David Shoebridge said the party will continue to benefit from Mr. Kaye’s work in establishing a clear path to their goals of New South Wales becoming the first state powered by 100% renewable electricity.
Former Greens leader; Bob Brown posted a short but glowing tribute to Mr. Kaye on Twitter.
“Vale NSW Greens MP John Kaye: champion of public education, pursuer of the corrupt, friend of the poor and dispossessed,” he said.
