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John Duncan Anderson (born 14 November 1956) is an Australian politician and commentator who served as the 11th
Deputy Prime Minister of Australia The deputy prime minister of Australia is the deputy chief executive and the second highest ranking officer of the Australian Government. The office of deputy prime minister was officially created as a ministerial portfolio in 1968, althoug ...
and leader of the National Party from 1999 to 2005. He was a member of the
House of Representatives House of Representatives is the name of legislative bodies in many countries and sub-national entitles. In many countries, the House of Representatives is the lower house of a bicameral legislature, with the corresponding upper house often c ...
from 1989 to 2007, serving as Minister for Primary Industries and Energy from 1996 to 1998 and Minister for Transport and Regional Development from 1998 to 2005 in the Howard Government. As a government minister and later deputy prime minister, Anderson had cabinet responsibility for primary industry policy, including transport infrastructure and agricultural water rights. After politics, Anderson launched a web-based interview program, ''Conversations with John Anderson'', featuring interviews with public intellectuals.


Early life and education

Anderson was born in Sydney to Duncan Anderson, and Beryl Mann. His family had been graziers and landowners of
Mullaley Mullaley is a village in the Gunnedah Shire, New South Wales, Australia. Geography Mullaley is on the Oxley Highway, 38 km west of Gunnedah. The Coxs Creek runs across the highway on the western side of the village. Mullaley is on the cr ...
in northern
New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...
since the 1840s. When he was three years old, his mother died of cancer. His father was an acting sergeant in north Africa during
World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, where he sustained significant injuries. In 1970, his younger sister Jane died after Anderson hit a
cricket ball A cricket ball is a hard, solid ball used to play cricket. A cricket ball consists of a cork core wound with string then a leather cover stitched on, and manufacture is regulated by cricket law at first-class level. The trajectory of a crick ...
into the back of her neck while playing cricket at home with his father. Anderson has described his religious upbringing as "very, very nominal Presbyterian". As a young child, Anderson was tutored at home by his aunt, Margaret, through Blackfriars Correspondence School. At age nine, he was sent to board in
Gunnedah Gunnedah is a town in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia and is the seat of the Gunnedah Shire local government area. In the the town recorded a population of 9,726. Gunnedah is situated within the Liverpool Plains, a fertile agricultur ...
where he attended Gunnedah South Public School. Anderson was then sent to The King's School in Parramatta, boarding at Waddy House. He began a degree in arts and laws at the
University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...
, where he was a resident of St Paul’s College, but dropped law shortly after commencing. Anderson graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in history and returned to the family property where he was a farmer and grazier, and completed a Master of Arts during this time.


Early parliamentary career

Anderson became chair of the National Party's
Tambar Springs Tambar Springs is a town in the North West Slopes region of New South Wales, Australia. At the , Tambar Springs and the surrounding area had a population of 187. Geography The town is in the Gunnedah Shire Council local government area, nort ...
branch in 1984. A few weeks later, MP
Frank O'Keefe Frank Lionel O'Keefe, AM (6 October 1912 – 21 April 1989) was an Australian politician. Born in Gunnedah, New South Wales, he attended state schools before becoming a farm machinery distributor and oil merchant. He was mayor of Gunnedah Sh ...
recommended Anderson run for the seat of Paterson, where he was current member, but the seat was abolished in 1984. In 1989, Ralph Hunt, the sitting MP in the neighbouring seat of Gwydir, retired and supported Anderson to replace him. The ensuing pre-selection contest to become the National Party candidate for the next election was close, Anderson winning over contenders that included future MP,
Tony Windsor Antony Harold Curties Windsor, (born 2 September 1950) is a former Australian politician. Windsor was an independent member for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Tamworth from 1991 to 2001 − supporting the incumbent Greiner L ...
. During the
by-election A by-election, also known as a special election in the United States and the Philippines, a bye-election in Ireland, a bypoll in India, or a Zimni election (Urdu: ضمنی انتخاب, supplementary election) in Pakistan, is an election used to f ...
he faced right wing candidates John Uebergang, who would later create the
Confederate Action Party of Australia The Confederate Action Party of Australia (CAP) was an Australian far-right political party which first appeared in the 1992 Queensland state election. Its 12 candidates polled an average of 10.13% in the seats they contested.Grearson, David & K ...
, and the anti-immigration Bevan O’Regan, who would later join One Nation. Anderson won the by election, with a two-party preferred result of 56%. His first remarks to the House of Representatives were part of a condolence motion for his mentor, and former MP,
Frank O'Keefe Frank Lionel O'Keefe, AM (6 October 1912 – 21 April 1989) was an Australian politician. Born in Gunnedah, New South Wales, he attended state schools before becoming a farm machinery distributor and oil merchant. He was mayor of Gunnedah Sh ...
, who had died two weeks before. Anderson later gave his official
maiden speech A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament. Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country. In many Westminster system governments, there is a convention th ...
on 17 August 1989. Anderson served in several parliamentary committees. After the 1990 federal election, the opposition leader
John Hewson John Robert Hewson AM (born 28 October 1946) is an Australian former politician who served as leader of the Liberal Party from 1990 to 1994. He led the Liberal-National Coalition to defeat at the 1993 Australian federal election. Hewson wa ...
asked Anderson to join the shadow ministry. He became Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations,
John Howard John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the ...
. In March 1993, following the Coalition's defeat at the 1993 election, Anderson was elected deputy leader of the Nationals in place of
Bruce Lloyd Bruce Lloyd, AM (born 24 February 1937) is an Australian retired politician. He was Deputy Leader of the National Party 1987–93. Career He was the President of the Victorian Country Party 1969–71. In the 1971 by-election that followed ...
. With the backing of Sinclair, who unsuccessfully challenged
Tim Fischer Timothy Andrew Fischer (3 May 1946 – 22 August 2019) was an Australian politician and diplomat who served as leader of the National Party of Australia, National Party from 1990 to 1999. He was Deputy Prime Minister of Australia, Deputy Prime ...
for the party leadership, he defeated three more senior candidates – Peter McGauran, John Sharp and Bruce Scott. At the time he was described in ''
The Canberra Times ''The Canberra Times'' is a daily newspaper in Canberra, Australia, which is published by Australian Community Media. It was founded in 1926, and has changed ownership and format several times. History ''The Canberra Times'' was launched in ...
'' as "a young, good-looking man with a long lineage in farming who has been tipped for party leadership ever since he entered politics because he bridges the traditional interests of the former Country Party and its need to update its image for the 1990s". He was subsequently included in
John Hewson John Robert Hewson AM (born 28 October 1946) is an Australian former politician who served as leader of the Liberal Party from 1990 to 1994. He led the Liberal-National Coalition to defeat at the 1993 Australian federal election. Hewson wa ...
's shadow cabinet as Shadow Minister for Primary Industry. As shadow minister he criticised the minister
Simon Crean Simon Findlay Crean (born 26 February 1949) is an Australian politician and trade unionist. He was the Member of Parliament for Hotham from 1990 to 2013, representing the Labor Party, and served as a Cabinet Minister in the Hawke, Keating, R ...
on matters such as the government-set wool floor price. Anderson served as acting leader of the Nationals for around a month starting in January 1994, in the absence of Fischer who had been badly injured in a car accident.


Cabinet minister

Anderson became the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy upon the Coalition's victory at the 1996 federal election, during which he had promised with John Howard, the establishment of a $1 billion fund to restore the national estate, including programs to arrest
soil degradation Soil retrogression and degradation are two regressive evolution processes associated with the loss of equilibrium of a stable soil. Retrogression is primarily due to soil erosion and corresponds to a phenomenon where succession reverts the land to ...
." Anderson reached 68.51% in the two party preferred vote for his seat of Gwydir. Upon becoming a minister, Anderson was asked by the prime minister,
John Howard John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the ...
, to join a five-person committee with the brief of making radical cuts to government spending. The goal of the so-called “razor gang” was to cut $6 to $8 billion in expenditure and was led by the new treasurer,
Peter Costello Peter Howard Costello (born 14 August 1957) is an Australian businessman, lawyer and former politician who served as the treasurer of Australia in government of John Howard from 1996 to 2007. He is the longest-serving treasurer in Australia' ...
. Anderson advocated that agricultural research and development, diesel fuel rebates and the
Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service The Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service was the Australian government agency responsible for enforcing Australian quarantine laws, as part of the Department of Agriculture. Following a period operating under the name DAFF Biosecurit ...
should be protected from spending cuts.


Minister for Primary Industries and Energy

Anderson's three years in the primary industries portfolio were marked by conflict as government protection of primary industries were removed. During his ministry, the government had significantly deregulated the wool, wheat and dairy sectors, and privatised much of the meat and livestock industry. Anderson lead a delegation of Australian business leaders to visit
Taiwan Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is a country in East Asia, at the junction of the East and South China Seas in the northwestern Pacific Ocean, with the People's Republic of China (PRC) to the northwest, Japan to the nort ...
in September 1996 in his role as primary industries minister, which the
People's Republic of China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. It is the world's most populous country, with a population exceeding 1.4 billion, slightly ahead of India. China spans the equivalent of five time zones and ...
said contravened the
One China policy The term One China may refer to one of the following: * The One China principle is the position held by the People's Republic of China (PRC) that there is only one sovereign state under the name China, with the PRC serving as the sole legit ...
. In response to the government-owned Australian Wool Corporation (AWC) being left with a surplus of four million bales of unsold wool and a debt of around $2 billion, Anderson and the Coalition government gave wool producers a pay-out of $300 million, drawing down against their equity in the wool stockpile, despite objections from many National Party members who preferred a policy of freezing sales from the stockpile. The government wool-owning entity was entirely privatised, to become Woolstock Australia, by August 2001. Anderson announced significant restructures of the meat and livestock industry in 1997, which were supported with some reservations by farmers groups, such as NSW Farmers. In 1998,
Meat & Livestock Australia Meat & Livestock Australia (M&LA) is an independent company which regulates standards for meat and livestock management in Australian and international markets. Headquartered in North Sydney, Australia; M&LA works closely with the Australian g ...
was created from the two organisations, with the goal of becoming a less costly, producer-owned service delivery body.


Minister for Transport and Regional Development

In September 1997, Anderson assumed the portfolio for Transport and Regional Development, giving him responsibility for developing national rail, road and water infrastructure. Anderson oversaw the creation of the
Australian Rail Track Corporation The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) is an Australian Government-owned statutory corporation. It operates one of the largest rail networks in the nation spanning 8,500km across five states, 39 worksites and more than 50 First Nations. ...
, a Commonwealth body set up to own or hold long-term leases over much of the continental rail network. In response to criticism over industry deregulation, the privatisation of
Telstra Telstra Group Limited is an Australian telecommunications company that builds and operates telecommunications networks and markets voice, mobile, internet access, pay television and other products and services. It is a member of the S&P/ASX 20 ...
and gun control laws, Fischer and Anderson scheduled a party meeting on 5 August 1998 to declare their leadership positions vacant, inviting their party room critics, particularly
Bob Katter Robert Bellarmine Carl Katter (born 22 May 1945) is an Australian politician who has been a member of the House of Representatives since 1993. He was previously active in Queensland state politics from 1974 to 1992. Katter was a member of the ...
and
De-Anne Kelly De-Anne Margaret Kelly (née Park; born 21 March 1954) is an Australian former politician. Kelly was a National Party member of the Australian House of Representatives from March 1996 until November 2007, representing the Division of Dawson, ...
, to replace them. Anderson and Fischer nominated for the positions they had vacated and were re-elected unopposed. During the 1998 federal election, private polling indicated that up to 49% of people in Anderson's seat of Gwydir intended to vote for the new
Pauline Hanson's One Nation Pauline Hanson's One Nation (PHON or ONP), also known as One Nation or One Nation Party, is a right-wing populist political party in Australia. It is led by Pauline Hanson. One Nation had electoral success in the late 1990s, before sufferi ...
. Anderson suffered a 16.18% swing against him with a primary vote of 46.14%, the only time his first round votes were below 50%.


Deputy prime minister

Following the resignation of deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Tim Fischer, Anderson was elected unopposed as the new leader and become deputy prime minister himself on 20 July 1999. Anderson kept his ministerial responsibilities in Transport and Regional Development and were extended to the delivery of government services, such as health, to regional and remote centres, and a role in the National Security Committee. Anderson also assumed the role of acting prime minister when John Howard was overseas, such as during the
September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks, commonly known as 9/11, were four coordinated suicide terrorist attacks carried out by al-Qaeda against the United States on Tuesday, September 11, 2001. That morning, nineteen terrorists hijacked four commercia ...
and in the aftermath of the 2002 Bali bombings. In 2002, Anderson called for laws making it an offence to desecrate the Australian flag. Anderson's ministerial department was responsible for paying outstanding wages and entitlements for former employees of the insolvent airline
Ansett Australia Ansett Australia was a major Australian airline group, based in Melbourne, Australia. The airline flew domestically within Australia and from the 1990s to destinations in Asia. After operating for 65 years, the airline was placed into admini ...
, though allowing it to collapse. During Anderson's tenure as deputy prime minister, the Coalition government established the
National Water Initiative The National Water Commission (NWC) was an independent statutory authority in Australia established by the ''National Water Commission Act 2004'' to implement the National Water Initiative and reform the broader national water agenda. The agency ...
in 2004, allowing producers to gain ongoing access entitlements for a share of water available for use, rather than fixed-term entitlements with no guarantee of renewal. On 17 November 2004, the MP for New England,
Tony Windsor Antony Harold Curties Windsor, (born 2 September 1950) is a former Australian politician. Windsor was an independent member for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Tamworth from 1991 to 2001 − supporting the incumbent Greiner L ...
, accused Anderson of offering him, via businessman Greg Maguire, a diplomatic or trade posting if Windsor would surrender his seat. As the statement was made under parliamentary privilege, it was protected from litigation for defamation. Anderson strongly repudiated the claims. A Senate inquiry and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions found that there were no grounds to lay any charges under the Commonwealth Electoral Act. On the last sitting day of Parliament before the winter recess of 2005, Anderson announced his resignation from the leadership of the National Party, and as deputy prime minister, citing a "debilitating but thankfully benign prostate condition". He was succeeded in both positions by
Mark Vaile Mark Anthony James Vaile (born 18 April 1956) is a former deputy prime minister of Australia and former leader of the National Party of Australia. Vaile is currently a non-executive director of a number of public listed corporations. Early li ...
, and retired from parliament at the 2007 federal election.


Later life

Anderson served as chairman of Eastern Star Gas (ESG) from October 2007 until 2011, when the publicly-listed company and its flagship Narrabri Gas Project was acquired by Santos in a $924 million deal. On 13 June 2011, Anderson was named an
Officer of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
: "For distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly for supporting rural and regional communities, transport development, and water management initiatives." In June 2022, Anderson was promoted to
Companion of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours for "eminent service to rural and regional development, to leadership in international agricultural research and food security, to social commentary, and through contributions to not-for-profit organisations". Prior to the 2017
Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey The Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey was a national survey designed to gauge support for legalising same-sex marriage in Australia. The survey was held via the postal service between 12 September and 7 November 2017. Unlike voting in ...
, Anderson was interviewed on
ABC ABC are the first three letters of the Latin script known as the alphabet. ABC or abc may also refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Broadcasting * American Broadcasting Company, a commercial U.S. TV broadcaster ** Disney–ABC Television ...
television and spoke about his opposition to same-sex marriage. In the late 2010s, Anderson increased his presence on online media, as well as newspaper opinion pieces and television appearances. In 2018, Anderson began hosting a podcast and YouTube channel on which he interviews public figures, including historian
Victor Davis Hanson Victor Davis Hanson (born September 5, 1953) is an American commentator, classicist, and military historian. He has been a commentator on modern and ancient warfare and contemporary politics for ''The New York Times'', ''Wall Street Journal'', ...
, former chief rabbi
Jonathan Sacks Jonathan Henry Sacks, Baron Sacks ( he, יונתן הנרי זקס, translit=Yona'tan Henry Zaks; 8 March 19487 November 2020) was an English Orthodox rabbi, philosopher, theologian, and author. Sacks served as the Chief Rabbi of the United ...
, former Labor Party leader
Kim Beazley Kim Christian Beazley (born 14 December 1948) is an Australian former politician and diplomat. He was leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and leader of the opposition from 1996 to 2001 and 2005 to 2006, having previously been a cabine ...
,,
Jonathan Haidt Jonathan David Haidt (; born October 19, 1963) is an American social psychologist and author. He is the Thomas Cooley Professor of Ethical Leadership at New York University Stern School of Business. His main areas of study are the psychology of ...
,
Glenn Loury Glenn Cartman Loury (born September 3, 1948) is an American economist, academic, and author. He is the Merton P. Stoltz Professor of the Social Sciences and Professor of Economics at Brown University, where he has taught since 2005. At the age of ...
,
Niall Ferguson Niall Campbell Ferguson FRSE (; born 18 April 1964)Biography
Niall Ferguson
, and psychologist
Jordan Peterson Jordan Bernt Peterson (born 12 June 1962) is a Canadian media personality, clinical psychologist, author, and professor emeritus at the University of Toronto. He began to receive widespread attention as a public intellectual in the late 2010s ...
. In March 2021, Anderson declared himself a candidate in the National Party's pre-selection for Senate candidacy at the 2022 federal election. In June, Anderson was beaten by former party director Ross Cadell, 42 votes to 39, for the top spot on the Nationals' New South Wales Senate ticket, and hence the second place on the joint Coalition Senate ticket. Anderson declined to run for the second spot, which was deemed unwinnable, and declared his political career had come to an end.


Personal life

In January 1998, Anderson’s wife Julia gave birth to their fifth child. The child was diagnosed with
Down Syndrome Down syndrome or Down's syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. It is usually associated with physical growth delays, mild to moderate intellectual dis ...
and
Hirschsprung's disease Hirschsprung's disease (HD or HSCR) is a birth defect in which nerves are missing from parts of the intestine. The most prominent symptom is constipation. Other symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea and slow growth. Symptoms us ...
and died six months later.


References


External links


Officialc website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Anderson, John 1956 births Living people Australian monarchists Companions of the Order of Australia Deputy Prime Ministers of Australia Members of the Cabinet of Australia National Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Gwydir Members of the Australian House of Representatives People educated at The King's School, Parramatta Delegates to the Australian Constitutional Convention 1998 20th-century Australian politicians University of Sydney alumni Leaders of the National Party of Australia 21st-century Australian politicians Government ministers of Australia