[2] In 1940, Baker was elected to represent the seat of Maranoa in the Australian House of Representatives as a member of the Australian Labor Party—only the second time Labor had ever won this normally safe conservative seat in the remote west of Queensland.

In Parliament, Baker called for a moratorium on farm foreclosures during World War II.

[3] He also argued for the need to maintain a sufficient workforce in rural employment to ensure the continuity of primary production in support of the war effort.

[4] Baker supported the placement of refugee doctors in rural communities, stating that when large numbers of local doctors were enlisting in the armed services, suitably qualified refugees were needed to meet the health care needs in smaller country towns.

[5] He was an outspoken supporter of the National Security Act and the Government's right to use whatever financial means necessary to defend Australia during the war.