Sometimes nicknames just stick.

When Tom Roper was health minister in the Cain government in the 1980s he was running late, with his driver Rex who happened to have a big beard, to a press conference.

When the pair finally arrived, someone yelled out: "Here's Snappy Tom and Whiskers."

The name stuck.

"Snappy" Tom Roper died last night aged 78.

A giant of the Victorian Labor Party, he has been remembered as a fierce social justice advocate, a hard-working and reforming minister, an early campaigner for climate action, a mentor and a top bloke.

Roper was first elected to the seat of Brunswick West as a 28-year-old in 1973, before becoming a minister in the Cain and Kirner Labor governments. He was a minister in health, transport, consumer affairs, treasurer and twice held the Aboriginal affairs portfolio.

His wife Anita said her husband was most proud of his work in Aboriginal affairs, and in building the Monash Medical Centre.

Before his time in parliament, Roper was National Aboriginal Affairs Officer at the National Union of Students.

Even before his time on Spring Street, Roper was championing his cause, authoring the book The Myth of Inequality, which outlined the gross disadvantages experienced by students.

Former Labor minister Richard Wynne said Roper was deeply committed to the cause of Aboriginal reconciliation.

"Tom was a towering figure in the Cain and Kirner Governments, for the last 15 years was a huge supporter locally of the Fitzroy Reds at Victoria's most beautiful ground the Brunswick St Oval,'' Mr Wynne said.

For Roper, policy always trumped politics.

Friend and former ministerial colleague John Harrowfield said Roper "was also driven by a penetrating intellectual curiosity and a restless need to understand the intricacies of an issue".

"This was something that Tom also expected of his colleagues, his public servants and his staff," he said.

Inside cabinet in his early days, Roper was already talking about climate change as an issue, Mr Harrowfield said.

His advocacy for climate action continued long after he left parliament, including representation with international boards and institutes.

'Take people with you'

Friend and former staff member Megan Stoyles said she always respected his intellect, integrity, and hard work.

Throughout his career, Roper was a reforming minister, with his work including overhauling mental health services in the state and closing down outdated hospitals for people with disabilities.

He also reformed hospital boards to better reflect the services they offered.

Being a reforming minister often put people's noses out of joint.

"He used to say: 'You have to establish the necessity of what you want to do, to take people with you','' Ms Stoyles said.

Roper also served as treasurer at a time when the state's economy was suffering from an economic downturn, the collapse of Tricontinental and the Pyramid Building Society and the sale of the State Bank.

Some years ago he suffered a stroke, which drove him to become a champion advocate for disability access.

Premier says Roper was a 'Labor giant'

Roper had three children.

Annabelle and Bronwen were from his first marriage to Marilyn Joyce.

His son Peter, who didn't find his father until he was a young man, was happily welcomed into the family by Roper.

Former health minister Martin Foley said he was a mentor and offered important advice when he was in the darkest days of the COVID pandemic.

"He was a skilled politician and understood how government bureaucracy worked and he would offer support when we needed it,'' he said.

A state funeral will be held.

Premier Daniel Andrews said Roper made a significant contribution to make Victoria a better place.

"Tom was a Labor giant, someone who served his local community in the inner north with great pride, was a very effective local member, a long-standing minister and someone who made a really significant contribution to our state and indeed beyond,'' Mr Andrews said.

Former Labor minister Richard Wynne said Roper would be missed.

"Tom was a towering figure in the Cain and Kirner Governments, for the last 15 years was a huge supporter locally of the Fitzroy Reds at Victoria's most beautiful ground the Brunswick St Oval,'' Mr Wynne said.

John Thwaites remembered the support Mr Roper gave to young MPs like himself when they first entered parliament. He said that support to MPs continued when they became ministers, with Mr Roper always providing insights and networking.

"He was an absolute pioneer in so many areas; green buildings, Aboriginal affairs and community health," Mr Thwaites, a former deputy premier, said.

"He was someone who believed in social justice and actually achieved it. He did the hard yards."