David Tonkin
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David Tonkin
Dr David Oliver Tonkin AO (1929-2000), Australian politician, was the Liberal Premier of South Australia from September 18, 1979 to November 10, 1982. Tonkin was a prominent supporter of equal opportunity legislation and he introduced the Sex Discrimination Act into South Australian Parliament in 1973. While in office, his government began the significant reduction in the size of government in South Australia, but towards the end of his term the economic fortunes of the state began to decline and the Liberal Party lost government to the Australian Labor Party led by John Bannon at the 1982 election. He is the last Liberal Premier to serve at least one full term in office since none of the three Premiers who headed the Liberal Government of 1993-2002, Dean Brown, John Olsen and Rob Kerin served an entire term prior to leaving office.
| Preceded by: Des Corcoran | Premier of South Australia 1979-1982 | Succeeded by: John Bannon |