Leading a condolence motion for the former Labor MP, Ms Palaszczuk praised his service that saw him winning the seat of South Brisbane in 1977 “to become the first Greek-born member of an Australian parliament”.*
Born in Kalavruta, Greece in 1938, Mr Fouras was sent to Australia to live with relatives at the age of 10.
His brother, Andreas, would later become mayor of Patra and a minister with the political party PASOK in Greece.
Mr Fouras won subsequent elections and following a hiatus from parliament, working at the Australian Human Rights Commission, he made a comeback claiming the seat of Ashgrove in 1989, the year that also marked a historic win for Labor in Queensland – the first since 1957.
Between 1990 and 1996 he served as a speaker of the house before retiring ten years later.
A life member of the Australian Labor Party, Mr Fouras was also made a member of the Order of Australia for service to the Queensland Parliament in 2014.
"Jim was an energetic and passionate person, as these awards recognised, and his family can be absolutely proud of his life," Ms Palaszczuk said.
His contribution and ethos was also recognised by Opposition Leader David Crisafulli
"Few could have imagined at the time of his birth in a small village in rural Greece in 1938 that he would rise to the position of Speaker of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland, " Mr Crisafulli said.
*It was the same year, 1977, that Labor MP Theo Sidiropoulos, who was born in Katerini in 1924 and migrated to Australia in 1954, was elected to represent Richmond in Victoria’s Legislative Assembly.
