Ian Smith (Australian politician)

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Ian Winton Smith (born 25 November 1939) was a Liberal Party of Australia politician who represented the Division of Warrnambool in the Victorian parliament as an MLA from 1967 until 1983. He resigned to unsuccessfully contest for pre-selection for the federal Division of Wannon. He later reentered the Victorian parliament as MLA for the Division of Polwarth from 1985 to 1999 when he retired.

He was born in Terang, Victoria and educated at Terang Primary and Secondary Schools and later Geelong Grammar. He has lived at 'Jingella', a farm near Camperdown all his life. It has an area of 4 km². He inherited it. He joined the Liberal Party in 1957. He has been married twice.

His political career includes, Minister of Water Supply,1970; Minister for Social Welfare 1970- 1973; Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation 1972-1973; Minister for Agriculture 1973- 1980; Minister for Economic Development 1980- 1981; Minister for State Development, Decentralisation and Tourism 1981.

Always a controversial MP Smith was once seen as a future leader of the Liberal Party, who managed over time to be sacked from both the Hamer and Kennett cabinets.

In 1998 he endured a political scandal involving his private life. He was shown to abuse parliamentary payments involving a woman who was not his legal wife.