at the 1989 state election, chance ran in second position in labor's ticket in agricultural region. he failed to win election, but in march 1992 filled the casual vacancy caused by jim brown's retirement. chance was re-elected as the lead labor candidate in agricultural region at the 1993 state election, and at every subsequent election until his retirement. he was included in the shadow ministry in february 1994, when ian taylor replaced carmen lawrence as leader, and served as a shadow minister under two more opposition leaders (jim mcginty and geoff gallop).