John Duncan Anderson (born 14 November 1956), Australian politician, has been Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and Leader of the rural-based National Party of Australia since July 1999.
Anderson was born in Sydney, New South Wales, but his family have been graziers (sheep ranchers) and landowners in northern New South Wales since the 1840s. He was educated at private schools and has a Master of Arts degree from the University of Sydney. He was a farmer and grazier on family properties before entering politics.
In 1988 Anderson was elected to the House of Representatives as MP for the rural seat of Gwydir. Handsome, well-educated and well-spoken, he made an immediate impression in the National Party, and was appointed to the Opposition front bench in 1992. In March 1993 he was elected Deputy Leader of the National Party.
When the Liberal Party under John Howard won the March 1996 elections and formed a coalition government with the National Party, Anderson became Minister for Primary Industries and Energy. In 1998 he shifted to become Minister for Transort and Regional Development.
When Tim Fischer retired as National Party leader in July 1999, Anderson was elected party leader without opposition and thus became Deputy Prime Minister. He inherited a party with its electoral base in a long-term decline and facing a series of difficult policy challenges. There were some doubts that his urbane image was appropriate for a rural-based party.
Among the issues facing Anderson as National Party leader were the Liberal Party's desire to privatise the state telephone company, Telstra, which many rural Australians fear will lead to higher charges and reduced services. Anderson succeeded in delaying any action on this until an inquiry had been held, and until a guarantee would be given that there would be no reduction in services.
Nevertheless, at the 2001 federal elections, the National Party lost three seats, two of them to independent MPs, while the Liberals gained seats. As a result, the party had to give up a place in the coalition Cabinet formed after the elections. During 2003 there was speculation that Anderson would soon be quitting politics, but in September he announced that he would stay and fight the election expected in 2004.
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Preceded by:
Tim Fischer
Leaders of the
National Party of Australia
Followed by:
(still in office)