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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 ], a Commonwealth body set up to own or hold long-term leases over much of the continental rail network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-11 |title=Inland rail plan unveiled |url=https://www.farmonline.com.au/story/3376515/inland-rail-plan-unveiled/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Farm Online |language=en-AU}}</ref> 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 ], a Commonwealth body set up to own or hold long-term leases over much of the continental rail network.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-09-11 |title=Inland rail plan unveiled |url=https://www.farmonline.com.au/story/3376515/inland-rail-plan-unveiled/ |access-date=2023-01-18 |website=Farm Online |language=en-AU}}</ref>


In response to criticism over industry deregulation, the privatisation of ] 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 ] and ], to replace them. Anderson and Fischer nominated for the positions they had vacated and were re-elected unopposed.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gallagher |first=Paul |title=Faith and Duty |publisher=Random House |year=2006 |isbn=9781741665642 |pages=125}}</ref> In response to criticism over industry deregulation, the privatisation of ] 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 ] and ], to replace them.<ref name=":6" /> In a situation that journalist ]<nowiki/>t called "bizarre" Anderson and Fischer then nominated for the positions they had vacated and were re-elected unopposed.<ref name=":6">{{Cite book |last=Gallagher |first=Paul |title=Faith and Duty |publisher=Random House |year=2006 |isbn=9781741665642 |pages=125}}</ref>


During the ], private polling indicated that up to 49% of people in Anderson's seat of ] intended to vote for the new ]. 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%.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}} During the ], private polling indicated that the threat to his seat would come from the political right, with up to 49% of people in Anderson's seat of ] intended to vote for the new ].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2003-08-29 |title=Unmasked Howard gets amnesia on Hanson |url=https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/unmasked-howard-gets-amnesia-on-hanson-20030829-gdhaz6.html |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> Anderson suffered a 16.18% swing against him with a primary vote of just 46.14%, the only time his first round votes were below 50%.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gallagher |first=Paul |title=Faith and Duty: The John Anderson Story |publisher=Random House |year=2006 |isbn=9781741665642 |pages=135}}</ref> Poor results for the National Party across the country prompted Anderson to initiate an inquiry and much soul-searching about its future."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-06-17 |title=National Party struggles for survival |url=https://www.afr.com/politics/national-party-struggles-for-survival-20000617-k9i21 |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=Australian Financial Review |language=en}}</ref> Anderson himself believed his constant travel had left regional Australians feeling neglected, saying that, "Politics abhors a vacuum, and we left one. For that I feel I must accept a fair degree of blame.”<ref name=":0" />


== Deputy prime minister == == Deputy prime minister ==

Revision as of 08:29, 19 January 2023

Australian politician, 11th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

The HonourableJohn AndersonAC
11th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
In office
20 July 1999 – 6 July 2005
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byTim Fischer
Succeeded byMark Vaile
Leader of the National Party of Australia
Elections: 2001, 2004
In office
20 July 1999 – 6 July 2005
DeputyMark Vaile
Preceded byTim Fischer
Succeeded byMark Vaile
Minister for Transport and Regional Development
In office
21 October 1998 – 6 July 2005
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byMark Vaile
Succeeded byWarren Truss
Deputy Leader of the National Party of Australia
In office
23 March 1993 – 20 July 1999
LeaderTim Fischer
Preceded byBruce Lloyd
Succeeded byMark Vaile
Minister for Primary Industries and Energy
In office
11 March 1996 – 21 October 1998
Prime MinisterJohn Howard
Preceded byBob Collins
Succeeded byMark Vaile
Member of Parliament
for Gwydir
In office
15 April 1989 – 17 October 2007
Preceded byRalph Hunt
Succeeded byDivision abolished
Personal details
Born (1956-11-14) 14 November 1956 (age 68)
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Political partyNational Party of Australia
SpouseJulia Robertson
Children5
Alma materThe King's School, Parramatta, University of Sydney

John Duncan Anderson AC (born 14 November 1956) is an Australian politician and commentator who served as the 11th Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and leader of the National Party from 1999 to 2005. He was a member of the House of Representatives 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 in northern New South Wales 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, where he sustained significant injuries. In 1970, his younger sister Jane died after Anderson hit a cricket ball 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 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, 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 branch in 1984. A few weeks later, MP Frank O'Keefe recommended Anderson run for the seat of Paterson, where he was current member, but the seat was abolished later that year. 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 was close, Anderson defeating several contenders that included future independent MP, Tony Windsor. In the by-election the threat came from right wing candidates John Uebergang, (who would later create the Confederate Action Party of Australia) and an anti-immigration candidate Bevan O’Regan (who would later join One Nation). Anderson won the 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 who had, “encouraged me to pursue a political career, despite the fact that I argued the point with him." In his official maiden speech on 17 August 1989, he centred on conservative values of individual liberty, the value of the family, limited government and "control of our national destiny."

In the 1990 federal election, Anderson lifted his result to 61%. The new coalition leader John Hewson made him Parliamentary Secretary to the Shadow Minister for Industrial Relations, John Howard.

The Coalition was again defeated at the 1993 election, though Anderson was returned with a 2pp result of 60%, and was made deputy leader of the Nationals, defeating three senior candidates – Peter McGauran, John Sharp and Bruce Scott. At the time he was described in The Canberra Times 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".

John Hewson appointed Anderson as Shadow Minister for Primary Industry. In the role he criticised the minister Simon Crean on the government-set wool floor price.

Cabinet minister

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In the 1996 Australian federal election, Anderson made an election promise with John Howard for the establishment of a $1 billion fund to restore the national estate, including programs to arrest soil degradation." Anderson won 68.51% in the two party preferred vote for his seat. He was made the Minister for Primary Industries and Energy in the new Government. He was also asked to join a five-person “razor gang” led by Peter Costello with the task of cutting $6 to $8 billion from government expenditure. Anderson advocated that diesel fuel rebates, theAustralian Quarantine and Inspection Service and agricultural research and development should be protected from the spending cuts because they "create growth even if they are funded by debt."

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 this time, the government 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 in September 1996 in his role as primary industries minister, which the People's Republic of China said contravened the One China policy.

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 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, 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 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 and De-Anne Kelly, to replace them. In a situation that journalist Michelle Grattant called "bizarre" Anderson and Fischer then nominated for the positions they had vacated and were re-elected unopposed.

During the 1998 federal election, private polling indicated that the threat to his seat would come from the political right, with up to 49% of people in Anderson's seat of Gwydir intended to vote for the new Pauline Hanson's One Nation. Anderson suffered a 16.18% swing against him with a primary vote of just 46.14%, the only time his first round votes were below 50%. Poor results for the National Party across the country prompted Anderson to initiate an inquiry and much soul-searching about its future." Anderson himself believed his constant travel had left regional Australians feeling neglected, saying that, "Politics abhors a vacuum, and we left one. For that I feel I must accept a fair degree of blame.”

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 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, though allowing it to collapse.

During Anderson's tenure as deputy prime minister, the Coalition government established the National Water Initiative 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, 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, and retired from parliament at the 2007 federal election.

Later life

NYU professor Jonathan Haidt meeting Anderson before an interview

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: "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 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, Anderson was interviewed on ABC 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, former chief rabbi Jonathan Sacks, former Labor Party leader Kim Beazley, Jonathan Haidt, Glenn Loury, Niall Ferguson, and psychologist Jordan Peterson.

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

Anderson in a sorghum field on the family property Newstead, Liverpool Plains in New South Wales, 2017

In January 1998, Anderson’s wife Julia gave birth to their fifth child. The child was diagnosed with Down Syndrome and Hirschsprung's disease and died six months later.

References

  1. "Joint Press Conference with Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson Parliament House, Canberra". pmtranscripts.pmc.gov.au. Retrieved 5 May 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ Gallagher, Paul (2006). Faith and Duty: the John Anderson story. Sydney: Random House. ISBN 9781741665642.
  3. "Autumn for a man of all seasons". The Age. 24 June 2005. Retrieved 4 January 2021.
  4. King, Madeleine (23 April 2018). "The day John Anderson's childhood ended". SBS Insight. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  5. ^ "Resources | Sydney University Evangelical Union". www.sueu.org.au. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  6. "Faces of Gunnedah Pollies". Namoi Valley Independent. 6 June 2013. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  7. Sowada, Karin. "Faith & Duty: The John Anderson Story". sydneyanglicans. Anglican Media Sydney. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  8. ^ "Hon John Anderson MP". Senators and Members of the Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  9. "2001 Profile of the division of Paterson". Australian Electoral Commission. Australian Electoral Commission. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  10. Ackerman, Piers (11 September 2020). "ALP caught in trap of its own making by two rats". www.dailytelegraph.com.au/blogs. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  11. Devine, Miranda (29 October 2011). "Windsor down but long way from out". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  12. Malone, Paul (30 March 1989). "Coalition Set To Reject Wheat Regulation". The Canberra Times.
  13. "Pressure on Kennet for Coalition". The Canberra Times. 17 April 1989. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
  14. "Hansard - APPROPRIATION BILL (No. 1) 1989-90". Parlinfo. (Commonwealth) Parliament of Australia. Retrieved 19 January 2021.
  15. Newman, Gerard; Kopras, Andrew (20 July 1990). "Federal Elections 1990" (PDF). Parliamentary Research Service. The Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia: 31.
  16. "HEWSON RESHUFFLES SHADOW MINISTRY". Australian Financial Review. 29 April 1992. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  17. "Hewson front bench switch". The Canberra Times. 29 April 1992.
  18. Newman, Gerard; Kopras, Andrew (8 October 1993). "Federal Elections 1993" (PDF). Background Paper (22). Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia: 31.
  19. Tom Connors (24 March 1993). "'Kind' challenge won by Fischer". The Canberra Times.
  20. Connors, Tom (24 March 1993). "'Kind' challenge won by Fischer". The Canberra Times.
  21. Iffland, Katrina (17 April 1993). "Opposition calls for wool tax guarantee". The Canberra Times.
  22. "John Howard, environmentalist - On Line Opinion - 24/12/2007". On Line Opinion. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  23. "1996 Federal Election News: Jan 27-Feb 23 - AustralianPolitics.com". 27 January 1996. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  24. "Anderson defends funding bias". Australian Financial Review. 17 February 1998. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  25. "Background Paper 6 1996-97 Federal Elections 1996". www.aph.gov.au. 1996. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  26. Wright, Shane (31 December 2018). "Time to cut when we had 'some fat on our bones': Howard". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  27. "The Sydney Morning Herald from Sydney, New South Wales, New South Wales, Australia on July 21, 1996 · Page 47". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 7 December 2022.
  28. Gallagher, Paul (2006). Faith and Duty: The John Anderson Story. Random House. p. 108. ISBN 9781741665642.
  29. ^ Frame, Tom (1996). The Ascent to Power, 1996: the Howard Government Volume 1. UNSW.
  30. "The Dragon has Claws: 1996 and The Howard Government's Hurdles with China - AIIA". Australian Institute of International Affairs. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  31. Wilkinson, John. "Rural Sector: Agriculture to Agribusiness" (PDF). Briefing Paper (3/03). NSW Parliamentary Library Research Service.
  32. "David Crombie reflects on 20 years of MLA, MSA operations". Beef Central. 27 November 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2021.
  33. "Inland rail plan unveiled". Farm Online. 11 September 2015. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  34. ^ Gallagher, Paul (2006). Faith and Duty. Random House. p. 125. ISBN 9781741665642.
  35. "Unmasked Howard gets amnesia on Hanson". The Sydney Morning Herald. 29 August 2003. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  36. Gallagher, Paul (2006). Faith and Duty: The John Anderson Story. Random House. p. 135. ISBN 9781741665642.
  37. "National Party struggles for survival". Australian Financial Review. 17 June 2000. Retrieved 19 January 2023.
  38. "Call to ban flag-burning". 5 November 2002.
  39. "PM - Anderson seeks law banning flag burning". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
  40. "Outlaw flag burning, Anderson urges". 5 November 2002.
  41. "PM defends right to burn flag". 16 November 2002.
  42. ^ "Former Nationals leader John Anderson seeks Senate spot after 14 years". Australian Financial Review. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  43. "Santos to acquire 100% of Eastern Star Gas". 18 July 2011.
  44. "Award Extract". Australian Honours Search Facility. Commonwealth Of Australia - Dept of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
  45. "Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours - the full list". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
  46. "Former National Party Leader John Anderson – Some home truths". ABC News. 22 August 2017. Archived from the original on 21 December 2021.
  47. Hains, Tim. "Victor Davis Hanson: Will Our Next Revolution Be French, Russian, Maoist, Or American?". www.realclearpolitics.com. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  48. "Hommage : Jonathan Sacks, le rabbin des nations". La Vie.fr (in French). 3 December 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
  49. ^ Sheridan, Greg (11 May 2019). "John Anderson's second coming". The Weekend Australian. Retrieved 27 September 2020.,
  50. Wright, Tony (8 March 2021). "'Every hand will be needed at the wheel': John Anderson in bid to return to Parliament". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 March 2021.
  51. Sheridan, Greg (8 March 2021). "John Anderson to make comeback with Nationals". The Australian.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  52. "Former leader John Anderson fails in Senate bid for troubled Nats". Australian Financial Review. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 20 June 2021.
  53. "John Anderson loses senate bid". Sky News. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
  54. "Former Nationals leader John Anderson's return to politics falls flat". Out in Perth. 20 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.

External links

External videos
video icon Australia is in a new culture war says John Anderson, Matter Of Fact With Stan Grant, ABC News
Political offices
Preceded byBob Collins Minister for Primary Industries and Energy
1996–1998 		Succeeded byMark Vaile
Preceded byMark Vaile Minister for Transport and Regional Development
1998–2005 		Succeeded byWarren Truss
Preceded byTim Fischer Deputy Prime Minister of Australia
1999–2005 		Succeeded byMark Vaile
Party political offices
Preceded byTim Fischer Leader of the National Party of Australia
1999–2005 		Succeeded byMark Vaile
Preceded byBruce Lloyd Deputy Leader of the
National Party of Australia
1993–1999 		Succeeded byMark Vaile
Parliament of Australia
Preceded byRalph Hunt Member for Gwydir
1989–2007 		Division abolished
Leaders of the National Party of Australia (and predecessors)
National Party of Australia
Leaders
Deputy leaders
Ministries
State & Territory Divisions
Organisations
History

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