Ian Smith (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Ian Winton Smith is a former Victoria
, Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
politician. He represented the Electoral district of Warrnambool
in the State of Victoria as a MLA
from 1967 until 1983. He resigned to unsuccessfully contest Liberal Party pre-selection for the Federal Division of Wannon. He later re-entered the Victorian Parliament as MLA for Electoral district of Polwarth
from 1985 to 1999.
Smith was born at Terang, Victoria
, Australia and educated at Terang Primary and Secondary Schools and Geelong Grammar School
. He has a farming background, living at a family farm "Gwinganna" near Terang until his first marriage in 1967 when he purchased and moved to another farm "Jingella", near Camperdown
. He sold that farm in 1988 and moved, living in both Lorne
and Melbourne. He joined the Liberal Party in 1957 and remains a member. 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 Carter with Cheryl Maxine Harris.
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. He was sacked from the Hamer Cabinet, then reinstated three days later. He resigned from the Kennett Cabinet as Minister for Finance because of legal action brought against him. He later won that legal action but retired from politics in 1999.
Since politics, Smith has built a successful business career with company directorships and an Agribusiness consultancy.
In 2009, Ian Smith was elected to the voluntary position of Chairman of the Corangamite
Federal Electorate Council of the Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division).
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
politician. He represented the Electoral district of Warrnambool
Electoral district of Warrnambool
The Electoral district of Warrnambool was an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly.-Members for Warrnambool:-See also:*Parliaments of the Australian states and territories*List of members of the Victorian Legislative Assembly...
in the State of Victoria as a MLA
Member of the Legislative Assembly
A Member of the Legislative Assembly or a Member of the Legislature , is a representative elected by the voters of a constituency to the legislature or legislative assembly of a sub-national jurisdiction....
from 1967 until 1983. He resigned to unsuccessfully contest Liberal Party pre-selection for the Federal Division of Wannon. He later re-entered the Victorian Parliament as MLA for Electoral district of Polwarth
Electoral district of Polwarth
The Electoral district of Polwarth is an electoral district of the Victorian Legislative Assembly. It covers much of the rural territory west of Geelong and includes the towns of Anglesea, Lorne, Lismore, Colac, Camperdown, Terang and Mortlake....
from 1985 to 1999.
Smith was born at Terang, Victoria
Terang, Victoria
Terang is a small Australian town situated in Corangamite Shire in the Western District of Victoria, Australia, on the Princes Highway 212 km south-west of the state's capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Terang had a population of 2256...
, Australia and educated at Terang Primary and Secondary Schools and Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
. He has a farming background, living at a family farm "Gwinganna" near Terang until his first marriage in 1967 when he purchased and moved to another farm "Jingella", near Camperdown
Camperdown, Victoria
Camperdown is an historically significant rural town in southwestern Victoria, Australia, south west of the state capital, Melbourne. At the 2006 census, Camperdown had a population of 3,165.-History:...
. He sold that farm in 1988 and moved, living in both Lorne
Lorne, Victoria
Lorne is a seaside town on Louttit Bay in Victoria, Australia. It is situated about the Erskine River and is a popular destination on the Great Ocean Road tourist route...
and Melbourne. He joined the Liberal Party in 1957 and remains a member. 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 Carter with Cheryl Maxine Harris.
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. He was sacked from the Hamer Cabinet, then reinstated three days later. He resigned from the Kennett Cabinet as Minister for Finance because of legal action brought against him. He later won that legal action but retired from politics in 1999.
Since politics, Smith has built a successful business career with company directorships and an Agribusiness consultancy.
In 2009, Ian Smith was elected to the voluntary position of Chairman of the Corangamite
Division of Corangamite
The Division of Corangamite is an Australian Electoral Division in Victoria. The division was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
Federal Electorate Council of the Liberal Party of Australia (Victorian Division).