James Porter (Australian politician)

James Robert Porter (born 19 February 1950) is an Australian politician. He was a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives from 1975 to 1980, representing the regional South Australian seat of Barker.

James Porter
Member of the Australian Parliament for Barker
In office 13 December 1975 – 19 February 1990
Preceded by	Jim Forbes
Succeeded by	Ian McLachlan
Personal details
Born	(1950-02-19) 19 February 1950 Adelaide, South Australia
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party of Australia

Porter was born in Adelaide into a wealthy establishment family, and studied law and economics at the University of Adelaide. He became a barrister and solicitor, as well as managing a large rural property owned by his family in the south-east of the state, where his family had large holdings. He also served as a lieutenant in the army reserve.[1][2][3]

Porter was elected to the House of Representatives in the Liberal victory at the 1975 federal election. He was promoted to the shadow ministry after the Liberal government was defeated at the 1983 election and served as opposition spokesperson for a succession of portfolios including Aboriginal affairs (1983-1984), health (1984-1987), family and community services and social security (1987) and housing and public administration (1987-1988). He was praised by conservatives for his performance in Aboriginal affairs at a time when the Labor government faced challenges relating to native title and was later credited with leading the opposition's attack on the controversial Australia Card proposal. In 1987, he was briefly raised as a potential candidate for deputy leader of the party. However, he was downgraded to shadow parliamentary secretary to the Leader of the Opposition in his last two years from 1989 to 1990.[1][4][5]

In June 1989 Porter was resoundingly defeated for Liberal preselection to recontest his seat at the 1990 federal election by Ian McLachlan, the high-profile and ambitious former president of the National Farmers' Federation.[6] He faced strong pressure to resign immediately to allow McLachlan to enter parliament at a by-election, with rumours that he would be offered another position such as High Commissioner in London so that he would resign, but refused and remained until the 1990 election.[7][1][8]

Porter was elected as a vice-president of the state branch of the Liberal Party in August 1989 while still an MP.[9] In 1992, he narrowly lost a bitter battle for the state presidency of the party to Vickie Chapman amidst infighting between the "wet" and "dry" factions of the party.[10]

Notes

1. "Biography for PORTER, James Robert". Australian Parliamentary Library. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
2. "Hail the messiah of the conservative forces". Sydney Morning Herald. 3 June 1989. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
3. "The new Liberal line-up". The Age. 17 March 1983. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
4. "Porter surges to success". The Age. 15 December 1984. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
5. "Twelve face the starter for deputy leader". Sydney Morning Herald. 17 July 1987. Retrieved 8 March 2020.
6. "Porter loses preselection". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 June 1989. p. 3. Retrieved 8 March 2020 – via Trove.
7. "McLachlan ready but Porter clings to his seat". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 17 August 1989. p. 6. Retrieved 8 March 2020 – via Trove.
8. "Libs want Porter to stand aside". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 September 1989. p. 5. Retrieved 8 March 2020 – via Trove.
9. "Porter elected to senior state job". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 August 1989. p. 3. Retrieved 8 March 2020 – via Trove.
10. "Wets and drys headed for split". The Canberra Times. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 29 July 1992. p. 15. Retrieved 8 March 2020 – via Trove.

Parliament of Australia
Preceded by Jim Forbes	Member for Barker 1975–1990	Succeeded by Ian McLachlan