Ian Smith (Australian politician)

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Ian Smith
Legislative Assembly
for Electoral district of Polwarth
In office
1985–1999
Preceded byCec Burgin
Succeeded byTerry Mulder
Personal details
Born (1939-11-25) 25 November 1939 (age 84)
Liberal Party
Alma materGeelong Grammar School

Ian Winton Smith (born 25 November 1939) is a former

Wannon, even though he would have been required to resign from the State Parliament only if he had been successful in the pre-selection. He later re-entered the Victorian Parliament as an MLA for the Electoral district of Polwarth
from 1985 to 1999.

Biography

Smith was born at

Melbourne. He joined the Liberal Party in 1957. He has been married twice, first to Jennifer Louise Bartlam with whom he has two sons, Edward and James. His second marriage to Anne Michelle Renshaw produced two daughters, Victoria and Jacqueline. He later produced a son with Cheryl Harris.[1]

Political career

His political career includes: Minister of Water Supply, 1970; Minister for Social Welfare, which he established and reformed child care 1970–1973; Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation, which he established 1972–1973; Minister for Agriculture, 1973–1980, where he undertook many market reforms; Minister for Economic Development, which he established, 1980–1981; Minister for State Development, Decentralization and Tourism, 1980; Minister for Finance, 1992–1995, where he undertook many reforms to privatize public sector assets, reduce the public sector workforce by 23% and reduce state debt and liabilities.

Always a controversial MP, Smith was once seen as a future leader of the Liberal Party.[2] He was sacked from Rupert Hamer's Cabinet, then reinstated three days later.[3] In June 1981 Smith played a major role in forcing Hamer to leave the premiership. When Jeff Kennett became premier in a 1992 landslide, Smith was appointed Minister for Finance, but resigned from the Kennett cabinet because of legal action brought against him by Cheryl Harris who was pregnant with his child.[4] He later won that legal action but retired from politics in 1999.

Post-politics

Since politics, Smith has built a successful business career with company directorships and an agribusiness consultancy. In 2009, he was elected to the voluntary position of Chairman of the Corangamite Federal Electorate Council of the Liberal Party of Australia, Victorian Division.

References

  1. ^ a b c Smith, Ian Winton Smith, Parliament of Victoria.
  2. ^ Victorian Election 2006: Polwarth, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 2006.
  3. ISBN 1-86287-601-0
    .
  4. ^ "Joe Tripodi: You're the man". 28 October 2000.
Parliament of Victoria
Preceded by
New seat
 Member for Warrnambool
1967–1983 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Polwarth
1985–1999 		Succeeded by
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