Richard Steele Shalders (born 14 March 1938) is a former Australian politician who was a Liberal Party member of the Legislative Assembly of Western Australia from 1974 to 1983, representing the seat of Murray. He served as a minister in the government of Ray O'Connor.

Richard Shalders
Member of the Legislative Assembly
of Western Australia
In office
30 March 1974 – 19 February 1983
Preceded byEwart Runciman
Succeeded byNone (abolished)
ConstituencyMurray
Personal details
Born (1938-03-14) 14 March 1938 (age 86)
Midland, Western Australia
Political partyLiberal

Shalders was born in Perth, and attended Midland High School before going on to Claremont Teachers College. He worked as a schoolteacher from 1959, initially at Manjimup Senior High School, and eventually became a primary school principal.[1] A member of the Liberal Party from 1966, Shalders was elected to parliament at the 1971 state election, replacing the retiring Ewart Runciman as the member for Murray. He retained his seat at the 1974, 1977, and 1980 elections.[2]

When Ray O'Connor replaced Sir Charles Court as premier in January 1982, Shalders was made an honorary minister in his new ministry. After a few months, he was made a substantive minister, taking over from Ray Young as Minister for Community Welfare, Minister for Housing, and Minister for Consumer Affairs.[1] O'Connor's government was defeated at the 1983 state election. Shalders had attempted to transfer from Murray to the new seat of Mandurah, but lost to Labor's John Read. He was one of four ministers to lose their seats, along with June Craig, Bob Pike, and Ray Young.[2] After leaving parliament, Shalders was involved with a variety of businesses in Mandurah, including a real estate company and a bakery.[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c Richard Steele Shalders – Biographical Register of Members of the Parliament of Western Australia. Retrieved 4 June 2016.
  2. ^ a b Black, David; Prescott, Valerie (1997). Election statistics : Legislative Assembly of Western Australia, 1890-1996. Perth, [W.A.]: Western Australian Parliamentary History Project and Western Australian Electoral Commission. ISBN 0730984095.
Parliament of Western Australia
Preceded by Member for Murray
1974–1983
Abolished
Political offices
Preceded by Minister for Community Welfare
1982–1983
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Housing
1982–1983
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister for Consumer Affairs
1982–1983
Succeeded by