Former Nationals leader and ex-deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony dies aged 90

Doug Anthony, the father of the modern Australian National Party, has died at the age of 90.

Doug Anthony, former deputy prime minister, in 1979.

Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Doug Anthony has died at the age of 90.

Mr Anthony was leader of the Country Party/National Party for 13 years and deputy prime minister for nine, influencing Coalition policies for much of the 1970s and 1980s.

In a statement, Mr Anthony’s family said he died peacefully in the Heritage Lodge aged-care home in Murwillumbah, northeast NSW.

“Although Doug was privileged to serve the people of Australia in high office, he always considered his family to be his greatest legacy and contribution to the world,” the family statement said.

“He was very much a man of the Tweed region, and it is fitting that he should depart this life from within the community that he loved so much.

“His family is tremendously proud of his legacy.

“While always very humble, he made a lasting contribution to the nation, and particularly to people in country Australia.”

Former deputy PM Doug Anthony with his wife Margot. Picture: supplied.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison described Mr Anthony as “a quiet giant” of Australian political life.

“He was a man with no pretences who was passionate about regional Australia,” he said.

Nationals Leader Michael McCormack said Mr Anthony was “a man of significant conviction and even more significant achievement.

“He was a man of decency, integrity, purpose and resolve … Mr Anthony never took a backwards step in advocating for our regions.

“It is because of Mr Anthony that The National Party stands today in its 100th year of existence,” Mr McCormack said, adding, “Rural and regional Australia has lost one of our greatest today.”

During his time as leader, Mr Anthony described his party as one that offered balance to the nation.

“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.”

Richmond MP Doug Anthony at the North Coast National. Picture: supplied

Mr Anthony grew up the son of the federal MP, Hubert Anthony, and spent time between Canberra and the family’s home in the northern NSW town of Murwillumbah.

Following the unexpected death of his father in 1957, Mr Anthony ran for election and won the seat of Richmond, aged just 27.

In the years that followed, Mr Anthony held the cabinet positions of Minister for the Interior, Minister for Primary Industry, and Minister for Trade and Resources.

In 1971, Mr Anthony succeeded John McEwen as party leader and served as Deputy Prime Minister under Prime Minister John Gorton and held the position for just 12 months before the Coalition lost the 1972 election to Labor’s Gough Whitlam.

With the election of Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser in 1975, Mr Anthony resumed the role of Deputy Prime Minister, and served for eight years.

As is tradition, Mr Anthony often served as acting Prime Minister while Malcolm Fraser took annual Christmas leave. Mr Anthony was famous for governing during these periods from his holiday caravan in his electorate, known affectionately as “the Prime Ministerial Caravan”.

Deputy Prime Minister Doug Anthony with Tim Fisher at the "Prime Ministerial caravan" where Mr Anthony ran the country while on holiday at New Brighton. Picture: supplied

Among his achievements, Mr Anthony established the Australian Wool Corporation, played a vital role in the development of Canberra’s annual ANZAC Parade, championed the construction of the National Library, and worked to modernise Australia’s global trade.

Mr Anthony was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the Australian parliament in 2003.

As one of the longest serving members of parliament, Mr Anthony retired in 1984 and was succeeded by his son, Larry, making the Anthony family the first three-generation family to serve in Australian politics.

Mr Anthony is survived by his wife Margot, his three children, and nine grandchildren.