Francis Matthew John Baker
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Photo: Sidney Riley
Francis (Frank) Matthew John Baker, born in Bundaberg, Queensland in 1903, was an Australian politician and unionist. Educated in Queensland, Baker became a public servant and later the Vice-President of the State Service Union. A member of the Federal Labor Party, he represented the federal seats of Oxley (1931 to 1934) and Griffith (1934 to 1939). Baker died in office on March 28, 1939, resulting in the 50th by-election of the Australian House of Representatives.
Baker unsuccessfully ran for office for the seat of Oxley in the 1928 federal election, being beaten by James Bayley of the National Party.
Following their election in 1931 Baker and William Hutchinson, the member for Indi, were the first members of the House of Representatives born after Australian Federation.
Baker's father, Francis (Frank) Patrick Baker, was elected to the former seat of Maranoa in 1940. This is the only case in which a father was elected to the Australian federal parliament after his son.
