Norm Baxter

Norman Eric Baxter (21 June 1909 – 14 November 2003) was an Australian politician who was a member of the Legislative Council of Western Australia from 1950 to 1958 and again from 1960 to 1983. He was a minister in the government of Sir Charles Court.

Baxter was born in Perth to Jessica Minnie (née Milsom) and Charles Farquharson Baxter. His father was also a member of parliament and government minister. Baxter attended the Perth Boys' School and Hale School. From 1929 to 1946, he had a farm at Balingup, which until 1933 he owned in partnership with his brother. After 1946, Baxter worked as an organiser for the Country Party.^[1] He first ran for parliament at the 1947 state election, as a Country Party candidate, but was defeated in the seat of Northam by Albert Hawke (a future Labor premier).^[2] In March 1950, his father, who represented East Province in the Legislative Council, died in office. Baxter stood for the resulting by-election (which was held for Central Province due to a redistribution), and was successful.^[1]

Having served out his father's term, Baxter was re-elected at the 1952 Legislative Council elections, but in 1958 was defeated by Charles Abbey of the Liberal Party. He re-entered parliament just two years later, following the retirement of Sir Charles Latham, a former Country Party leader. He would be re-elected on another three occasions, at the 1965, 1971, and 1977 state elections. After the Liberal–NCP coalition won power at the 1974 election, Baxter was made Minister for Health and Minister for Community Welfare in the new ministry. However, the coalition broke in May 1975, and he and the two other NCP ministers (Ray McPharlin and Matt Stephens) resigned from cabinet. The disputes which had led to the split were quickly resolved, and Baxter re-entered the ministry the following month, where he remained until a reshuffle following the 1977 election.^[1]

Baxter retired from parliament at the 1983 state election. He died in Perth in November 2003, aged 94. He had married twice, firstly in 1934 to Dulcie Armour, with whom he had four children. He divorced in 1966 and remarried the following year to Joan Ellis (née Hughes), although he was widowed in 1998.^[1]

References