OBITUARY

Doug Anthony died on 20/12/2020.

The Hon John Douglas Anthony AC FTSE was Australia’s longest-serving Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the National (Country) Party from 1971-84.

He’s credited with modernising the Nationals from a largely protectionist party that represented farmers to one that was more outward looking and representative of the wide range of residents in regional Australia.

Doug Anthony grew up in northern New South Wales and initially intended to run his family’s dairy farm but entered politics after the unexpected death of his father who had served in the Menzies government. Aged 27 he was the youngest member of what was an all-male bastion.

He had a quick mind and grasp of policy, and it wasn’t long before he was appointed to the frontbench. In 1971, on the retirement of John McEwen, he became leader of what was then the Country Party, as well as trade minister. One of his first tasks was to expand Australia’s trade links with Asia.

During the next 13 years he also served as Deputy Prime Minister to Prime Ministers John Gorton, Billy McMahon and Malcolm Fraser.

When Mr Fraser took his annual summer break, Doug Anthony would often run the country from his caravan at New Brighton in his electorate. He dubbed it “beach power”.

In 1977, he gave the dinner address at ATS(E)’s first symposium and after his retirement from politics, he became the inaugural chair of what was then the ATSE Crawford Fund. He became an honorary ATSE Fellow in 1990 and was always a very strong supporter of the Academy.

In 2005 he delivered the ATSE Annual Oration saying he found it a great honour to be asked to speak to such a distinguished group of people. “I hope you feel some satisfaction and joy from what you are doing because it is important and too often undervalued,” he said.

Doug Anthony died 20 December 2020 at the age of 90 in Murwillumbah and is survived by his wife Margot, three children and nine grandchildren.