{{Short description|Australian politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder |name=Dale Baker |image= |order=Leader of the Opposition in South Australia |term_start=12 January 1990 |term_end=11 May 1992 |predecessor=John Olsen |successor=Dean Brown |deputy=Stephen Baker |office1 = Leader of the South Australian <br/> Liberal Party |term_start1 = 12 January 1990 |term_end1 = 11 May 1992 |predecessor1 = John Olsen |successor1 = Dean Brown |deputy1=Stephen Baker |order3=Member of the South Australian Parliament for Victoria |term_start3=7 December 1985 |term_end3=11 December 1993 |predecessor3=Allan Rodda |successor3=''seat abolished'' |order2=Member of the South Australian Parliament for MacKillop |term_start2=11 December 1993 |term_end2=11 October 1997 |predecessor2=''new seat'' |successor2=Mitch Williams |birth_name = Dale Spehr Baker |birth_date = {{birth date|1939|1|30|df=y}} |death_date = {{death date and age|2012|3|27|1939|1|30|df=y}} |party=Liberal Party of Australia (SA) }}

'''Dale Spehr Baker''' (30 January 1939&nbsp;– 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.

==Parliament== 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.<ref name="SA parl">{{Cite SA-parl |pid=2490 |name=Dale Baker |former=yes |access-date=9 November 2022}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://indaily.com.au/news/2016/01/15/sa-electors-searching-for-proof-of-liberal-life/ |title=SA electors searching for proof of Liberal life |website=InDaily |date=15 January 2016 |access-date=9 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://indaily.com.au/news/local/2016/01/14/mr-unpopularitys-poll-dip-laid-bare/ |title=Mr Unpopularity's poll dip laid bare |website=InDaily |date=14 January 2016 |access-date=9 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://polling.newspoll.com.au.tmp.anchor.net.au/cgi-bin/polling//display_poll_data.pl?url_caller=trend&mode=trend&page=show_polls&question_set_id=14 |title=South Australian |website=Newspoll archive |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=13 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113232007/http://polling.newspoll.com.au.tmp.anchor.net.au/cgi-bin/polling//display_poll_data.pl?url_caller=trend&mode=trend&page=show_polls&question_set_id=14 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

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.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pollbludger.com/sa2006/mackillop.htm |website=The Poll Bludger |title=MacKillop |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080731002915/http://www.pollbludger.com/sa2006/mackillop.htm |archive-date=31 July 2008}}</ref>

==Later life== Baker had motor neurone disease (ALS) and was a supporter of voluntary euthanasia.<ref>[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/ipad/ailing-ex-lib-boss-backs-voluntary-euthanasia/story-fn6bqphm-1226032575792 Ailing ex-Lib boss backs voluntary euthanasia: 3 April 2011]</ref> Baker died on 27 March 2012 from motor neurone disease.<ref name=kelton>{{cite news|last=Kelton|first=Greg|title=Former South Australian Liberal Party leader Dale Baker dies|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/former-liberal-leader-dale-baker-dies/story-e6frea83-1226312132464|accessdate=28 March 2012|newspaper=AdelaideNow|date=28 March 2012}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}} &nbsp; {{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=John Olsen}} {{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Opposition in South Australia|years=1990–1992}} {{s-aft|after= Dean Brown}} {{s-bef | before= Frank Blevins|as=Minister for Mineral Resources}} {{s-ttl | title= Minister for Mines and Energy | years= 1993–1995 }} {{s-aft | after= Stephen Baker }} {{s-bef | before= Terry Groom }} {{s-ttl | title= Minister for Primary Industries | years= 1993–1995 }} {{s-aft | after= Rob Kerin }} {{s-vac|last=Frank Blevins (1992)}} {{s-ttl | title= Minister for Finance | years= 1996–1997 }} {{s-aft | after= Stephen Baker }} {{s-bef | before= Stephen Baker |as=Minister for Mines and Energy}} {{s-ttl | title= Minister for Mines | years= 1996–1997 }} {{s-aft | after= Rob Kerin|as=Minister for Primary Industries,<br /> Natural Resources and Regional Development}} {{s-par|au-sa}} {{s-bef|before=Allan Rodda}} {{s-ttl | title=Member for Victoria | years=1985–1993}} {{s-non|reason=Seat abolished}} {{s-new|seat}} {{s-ttl | title=Member for MacKillop | years=1993–1997}} {{s-aft|after=Mitch Williams}} {{s-ppo}} {{s-bef|before=John Olsen}} {{s-ttl|title=Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division)|years=1990–1992}} {{s-aft|after= Dean Brown}} {{s-end}}

{{Leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia (SA division)}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Dale}} Category:1939 births Category:2012 deaths Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of South Australia Category:Members of the South Australian House of Assembly Category:Leaders of the opposition in South Australia Category:Deaths from motor neuron disease in Australia

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