George Laffer

Who was George Laffer?

George Richards Laffer was an Australian politician. He was member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1913 until 1933, representing the electorate of Alexandra for the Liberal Union, and its successors the Liberal Federation and Liberal and Country League. He was a minister in the Barwell government, and was Speaker from 1927 until 1930.

Laffer was born at Coromandel Valley into a fruit-growing family, his father having emigrated from Cornwall in 1840. He continued in the family business, and was actively involved in agricultural organisations, serving as a founder of the South Australian Fruitgrowers' Association, life member of the Agricultural Bureau, and as chairman of the Advisory Board of Agriculture. He served nine years on the Mitcham District Council, including four years as chairman.

Laffer was elected to the House of Assembly for Alexandra on his third attempt in 1913. He was chairman of committees from 1918 to 1920, and was promoted to the ministry when Henry Barwell became Premier, serving as Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration and Minister for Repatriation until the government's defeat in 1924.