Dale Spehr Baker (30 January 1939 – 27 March 2012) was an Australian politician, serving as South Australian Opposition Leader and Leader of the South Australian Division of the Liberal Party of Australia from 1990 to 1992.

Dale Baker
Leader of the Opposition in South Australia
In office
12 January 1990 – 11 May 1992
DeputyStephen Baker
Preceded byJohn Olsen
Succeeded byDean Brown
Leader of the South Australian
Liberal Party
In office
12 January 1990 – 11 May 1992
DeputyStephen Baker
Preceded byJohn Olsen
Succeeded byDean Brown
Member of the South Australian Parliament for MacKillop
In office
11 December 1993 – 11 October 1997
Preceded bynew seat
Succeeded byMitch Williams
Member of the South Australian Parliament for Victoria
In office
7 December 1985 – 11 December 1993
Preceded byAllan Rodda
Succeeded byseat abolished
Personal details
Born
Dale Spehr Baker

(1939-01-30)30 January 1939
Died27 March 2012(2012-03-27) (aged 73)
Political partyLiberal Party of Australia (SA)

Parliament

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Baker was elected member for the south-eastern rural seat of Victoria from the 1985 state election. Liberal leader John Olsen resigned following the 1989 state election loss with Baker succeeding him as Liberal leader two months later in January 1990.[1]

On just 23 percent, in early 1990 he recorded the lowest Newspoll leadership approval rating in South Australian history. However, his disapproval rating was also very low at just 11 percent. In itself a record, at 66 percent, an entire two-thirds of respondents were uncommitted. From late 1991, he entered a net negative rating from which he did not recover.[2][3][4]

Baker did not lead the Liberals to an election, resigning from the leadership in 1992, to be succeeded by Dean Brown. Baker's seat of Victoria was renamed to MacKillop from the 1993 state election. After the Liberals' landslide victory that year, Baker served as a minister under both Brown and Olsen. He remained in parliament until the 1997 state election where he unexpectedly lost his seat to Liberal-turned-independent Mitch Williams, who rejoined the Liberals in 1999.[5]

Later life

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Baker had motor neurone disease (ALS) and was a supporter of voluntary euthanasia.[6] Baker died on 27 March 2012 from motor neurone disease.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Dale Baker". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  2. ^ "SA electors searching for proof of Liberal life". InDaily. 15 January 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  3. ^ "Mr Unpopularity's poll dip laid bare". InDaily. 14 January 2016. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  4. ^ "South Australian". Newspoll archive. Archived from the original on 13 January 2017. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  5. ^ "MacKillop". The Poll Bludger. Archived from the original on 31 July 2008.
  6. ^ Ailing ex-Lib boss backs voluntary euthanasia: 3 April 2011
  7. ^ Kelton, Greg (28 March 2012). "Former South Australian Liberal Party leader Dale Baker dies". AdelaideNow. Retrieved 28 March 2012.

 

Political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Opposition in South Australia
1990–1992
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister for Mineral Resources Minister for Mines and Energy
1993–1995
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Primary Industries
1993–1995
Succeeded by
Vacant
Title last held by
Frank Blevins (1992)
Minister for Finance
1996–1997
Succeeded by
Preceded byas Minister for Mines and Energy Minister for Mines
1996–1997
Succeeded byas Minister for Primary Industries,
Natural Resources and Regional Development
Parliament of South Australia
Preceded by Member for Victoria
1985–1993
Seat abolished
New seat Member for MacKillop
1993–1997
Succeeded by
Party political offices
Preceded by Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division)
1990–1992
Succeeded by