Larry Anthony


Lawrence James Anthony is a former Australian politician. He was a National Party of Australia member of the Australian House of Representatives representing the Division of Richmond, New South Wales, from the March 1996 election until his defeat in the 2004 election. He held the seat that was previously held by his father, Doug Anthony, and his grandfather, Larry Anthony, senior. The Anthonys are the only three-generation dynasty in the history of the House of Representatives.

Early life

Anthony was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and educated at Canberra Grammar School before attending university at the University of New South Wales, Sydney. He was a businessman and stockbroker before entering politics.

Politics

Anthony first ran in Richmond in 1993, losing to Labor incumbent Neville Newell—the first time that a member of the Anthony family had lost an election. He sought a rematch in 1996, and defeated Newell as part of the Coalition's decisive win that year.
However, due to demographic changes over the previous two decades that made Richmond much more compact and urban, Anthony was never able to establish nearly as secure a hold on the seat as his father and grandfather possessed when they held it for 47 consecutive years from 1937 to 1984. He barely held onto his seat in 1998 and 2001, surviving both times on One Nation preferences. In 2004, he was defeated by Labor's Justine Elliot, being the only Coalition MP from a rural electorate to lose his seat and the first member of the Anthony family to be unseated at an election. On the seventh count, Elliot picked up a large flow of Green preferences, allowing her to defeat Anthony by 301 votes.
Anthony was Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Trade 1998–99, Minister for Community Services 1999–2001 and Minister for Children and Youth Affairs from 2001 to 2004.

Post-political life

He is a fellow of the Financial Services Institute of Australia and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.. Since 2015 he has served as the Federal President of the organisational wing of the National Party.
Anthony was appointed as Chair of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award - Australia and from 2012 to current as President/Chair of The Friends of The Duke of Edinburgh Award in Australia. In 2006-2009, Anthony was Deputy Chair of the International Award Association. http://www.dukeofed.org.au/

Honours