Kirner entered the Victorian Parliament in 1982 as an MLC (ALP) for the Province of Melbourne West. Between 1985 and 1988 she was Minister for Conservation, Forests & Lands. In 1988 she moved to the Lower House as the member for Williamstown and was appointed Minister for Education (1988-1990) and Minister for Ethnic Affairs (1990-1991). She served as Deputy Premier from 1989-1990 and in 1992 became the Leader of the Opposition.

Kirner resigned from parliament in 1994. That same year, she was appointed Chair of the Employment Services Regulatory Authority (which position she held until 1996), and Chair of the National Committee to Celebrate the Centenary of Federation. In May 2001, as a member of the Victorian Committee for the Centenary of Federation, she organised the Women Shaping the Nation event and presentation of the Victorian Honour Roll of women in the Victorian Parliament with 756 women present.

Kirner maintains an interest in social justice, equity for women, the arts and landcare. With Moira Rayner, she co-authored the best selling Women’s Power Handbook, published in 1999 and illustrated by Judy Horacek. Kirner is co-convenor of Emily’s List, a Board member of the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, and a member of the Playbox Theatre Board. She supports a variety of organisations including the Living Museum of the West, the Women’s Circus and Positive Women.

Sources used to compile this entry: http://www.apesma.asn.au/women/conference/joan_kirner.htm, accessed 03/04/2002. The current site for the APESMA (Association of Professional Engineers, Scientists and Managers, Australia) Professional Women's Network is http://www.apesma.asn.au/women/index.asp.