Tony Rundle

Anthony Maxwell RundleAO (5 March 1939 – 4 April 2025) was an Australian politician who served as Premier of Tasmania from March 1996 until September 1998. He succeeded Ray Groom and was succeeded himself by Jim Bacon. He was a Liberal who held the seat of Braddon between 1986 and 2002. A former journalist, he was married to Caroline Watt. He had twin daughters from his first marriage.

Rundle was first elected as member for Braddon in 1986 and re-elected in the 1989, 1992, 1996 and 1998 elections. He served as Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1988 to 1989.

During the 1996 election, Liberal premier Ray Groom promised he would only govern if the Liberals kept their majority. At that election, the Liberals suffered a three-seat swing and lost their majority. The Labor Party refused to enter into any agreement with the Greens, leaving a Liberal minority government backed by the Greens as the only realistic option. Groom resigned rather than break his pre-election pledge, and Rundle was elected Liberal leader. He quickly reached an agreement with the Greens, allowing him to become Premier.