December 20, 2020
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has paid tribute to former Country Party leader Doug Anthony who died on Sunday aged 90.
Mr Anthony was elected to the House of Representatives for the NSW seat of Richmond at a by-election in 1957 after the sudden death of his father, Larry, who had held the seat since 1937.
Doug was just 27 when elected. He was appointed to the ministry in 1964 and represented Richmond until he retired from politics in 1984.
His son Larry also went into politics, holding Richmond for the Nationals from 1996-2004, completing a three-generation dynasty for the Anthony family in the seat.
“Doug Anthony was a quiet giant of Australian political life,” Prime Minister Morrison said.
“He was a man with no pretences who was passionate about regional Australia.”
Doug Anthony served as a Minister under six Prime Ministers – including Sir Robert Menzies.
His roles included Minister for the Interior, Minister for Primary Industry, and Minister for Trade and Resources.
“Doug Anthony served a distinguished career as Deputy Prime Minister for over nine years, first in the Gorton Government, then the McMahon Government and throughout the entirety of the Fraser Government,” Mr Morrison said.
“As the son of a Federal Minister, Doug spent periods of his childhood in Canberra.
“Years later, as a Minister he oversaw a series of significant achievements and reforms for Australia.
“As Minister for the Interior, he would play a role in the development of Anzac Parade in Canberra as well as the construction of the National Library and the National Carillon.
“As Minister for Primary Industry, he established the Australian Wool Corporation.
“As Trade and Resources Minister, Doug worked to modernise and expand our trade agreement with New Zealand, opened up the uranium industry in Australia, and sought to expand trade with Japan, China and the Middle East.
“Doug Anthony was an outward looking political leader.
“He was the trusted political partner of Malcolm Fraser from the days of the Supply crisis until the end of the Fraser Government.
“Under Doug Anthony’s 13-year leadership, the Country Party evolved into the National Party.
“He described his party as one that keeps the balance in Australian political life: ‘A strong Country Party does keep the balance – the balance of stable, dependable government; the balance of development between city and country; the balance of economic activity; a balance between the rural industries and the other sectors of the community. … We keep a balance between the extremes of political thought’
“To Doug’s wife Margot, their children and extended family, I extend the nation’s condolences.”
Member for Maranoa and Deputy National Party Leader David Littleproud said the National Party family was mourning the loss.
He described the former party leader as “a giant of rural and regional politics and a legend of the National Party”.
“Together with the Deputy Prime Minister and on behalf of the entire federal Nationals parliamentary team I extend my deepest condolences to the Anthony family and to the NSW North Coast community that he hailed from,” Mr Littleproud said.
“Doug served his electorate of Richmond in Northern NSW as well as our nation with distinction as leader of the Country Party and National Party for over 12 years, including as Deputy Prime Minister for almost 10 years.
“During his tenure both as Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Doug shaped and influenced the national policy agenda and delivered major wins for Australian farmers, our resources industry and for Australian exports.
“Doug Anthony epitomised the finest qualities of leadership and service and leaves a significant legacy for future generations of National Party representatives to uphold and continue.
“Our nation has been made richer because of the work he did and we are all poorer for his passing.”
