Tony Rundle
Encyclopedia
Anthony Maxwell Rundle AO
(born 5 March 1939 in Scottsdale, Tasmania
) was the Premier
of the Australia
n State of Tasmania
from 18 March 1996 to 14 September 1998. He succeeded Ray Groom
and was succeeded himself by Jim Bacon
. He is a Liberal who held the seat of Braddon
between 1986 and 2002. A former journalist, he is married to Caroline Watt. He has twin daughters Helen and Jane from his first marriage.
Rundle was first elected as member for Braddon
in 1986 he held the seat during the 1989, 1992 and 1996 elections. During the 1996 election, Liberal Premier Ray Groom
promised he would only govern in majority. After that election Groom lost his majority and the Labor Party refused a to enter into any agreement with the Greens, so the Liberals were forced into a minority government. Because of this Groom resigned and Rundle became his replacement.
rose and the state economy struggled. The Labor
party exploited this in hopes of discrediting the Liberal
s' economic credibility. However, others simply blamed the bad economic conditions on lack of investment in the state for fear of minority government
. In his government Rundle granted the Greens offices, staff and more parliamentary resources.
He came under pressure from lobby groups to reduce the size of parliament, mostly for cost cutting purposes. There were numerous proposals including having three multi-member seats in the Tasmanian House of Assembly
electing nine members each http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/tpl/InfoSheets/reform_1998.htm. Others proposed abolishing the Tasmanian Legislative Council
and merging some of its electorates into the House of Assembly. The Australian Labor Party
proposed a 40 member parliament with 25 members in the House of Assembly and 15 members in the Legislative Council. The Labor Party proposal was backed by many business groups and the Legislative Council as it would reduce the chance of a minority government. Rundle however refused to support Labors proposal, as it was likely to lead to his downfall. One Liberal member, Bob Cheek
' crossed the floor to support Labor's proposal; he was later forced to resign from his position as secretary for small business. The Rundle government was unable to get support from the Legislative Council for its alternatives and wasn't able to abandon the issue, so they later decided to support Labor's bill. In a speech Rundle stated "While this new model isn't perfect, at least a party with 10% of the vote will no longer control the state" . The reduction in the size of parliament increased the required quota for election from 12.5% to 16.7% and made it more difficult for Green members to be elected. Rundle called an election immediately after declaring support knowing that the Greens would pass a no confidence vote against him. Tasmanian Greens
leader Christine Milne
claimed Rundle had 'betrayed her trust to deliberately remove a group of Tasmanians from politics for the Liberals' own gain' .
After the size of parliament was reduced, Rundle lost the following 1998 state election and became opposition leader. He held this position until July 1999 and retired just before the 2002 state election.
The Rundle government is credited for its numerous reforms; including legalising homosexual acts in private
, reforming gun laws, the Bass link initiative, signing the Regional Forests Agreement, a small move towards more conservation in Tasmania
, and the handling of the Port Arthur massacre.
Proportional Representation Society of Australia - Parliamentary reform process.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(born 5 March 1939 in Scottsdale, Tasmania
Scottsdale, Tasmania
Scottsdale is a town in the north-east of Tasmania, Australia. It lies on the Tasman Highway, around north-east of Launceston and south-east of the coastal town of Bridport. It is part of the Dorset Council....
) was the Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
of the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n State of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
from 18 March 1996 to 14 September 1998. He succeeded Ray Groom
Ray Groom
Raymond John "Ray" Groom, AO is a lawyer and former Australian sportsman and politician, representing the Liberal Party in the Federal Parliament 1975–84 and the Tasmanian Parliament 1986–2001. He was a Federal and state minister for a total of 13 years...
and was succeeded himself by Jim Bacon
Jim Bacon
James Alexander Bacon, AC was Premier of Tasmania from 1998 to 2004.-Early life:Bacon was born in Melbourne; his father Frank, a doctor, died when Jim was twelve, leaving him to be raised by his mother Joan. He was educated at Scotch College and later at Monash University, but he did not graduate....
. He is a Liberal who held the seat of Braddon
Division of Braddon
The Division of Braddon is an Australian Electoral Division in Tasmania.The division was created in 1955 to replace the abolished Division of Darwin, and is named for Sir Edward Braddon, a Premier of Tasmania and one of Tasmania's five original federal MPs...
between 1986 and 2002. A former journalist, he is married to Caroline Watt. He has twin daughters Helen and Jane from his first marriage.
Rundle was first elected as member for Braddon
Division of Braddon (state)
The Electoral Division of Braddon, Tasmania is one of the 5 electorates in the Tasmanian House of Assembly. The constituency takes its name from the former Premier of Tasmania, Sir Edward Braddon. Prior to 1955, the electorate was known as Darwin. The boundaries and name of the electorate are...
in 1986 he held the seat during the 1989, 1992 and 1996 elections. During the 1996 election, Liberal Premier Ray Groom
Ray Groom
Raymond John "Ray" Groom, AO is a lawyer and former Australian sportsman and politician, representing the Liberal Party in the Federal Parliament 1975–84 and the Tasmanian Parliament 1986–2001. He was a Federal and state minister for a total of 13 years...
promised he would only govern in majority. After that election Groom lost his majority and the Labor Party refused a to enter into any agreement with the Greens, so the Liberals were forced into a minority government. Because of this Groom resigned and Rundle became his replacement.
Government
During Rundle's minority government; unemploymentUnemployment
Unemployment , as defined by the International Labour Organization, occurs when people are without jobs and they have actively sought work within the past four weeks...
rose and the state economy struggled. The Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
party exploited this in hopes of discrediting the Liberal
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
s' economic credibility. However, others simply blamed the bad economic conditions on lack of investment in the state for fear of minority government
Minority government
A minority government or a minority cabinet is a cabinet of a parliamentary system formed when a political party or coalition of parties does not have a majority of overall seats in the parliament but is sworn into government to break a Hung Parliament election result. It is also known as a...
. In his government Rundle granted the Greens offices, staff and more parliamentary resources.
He came under pressure from lobby groups to reduce the size of parliament, mostly for cost cutting purposes. There were numerous proposals including having three multi-member seats in the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
electing nine members each http://www.parliament.tas.gov.au/tpl/InfoSheets/reform_1998.htm. Others proposed abolishing the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the House of Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Hobart...
and merging some of its electorates into the House of Assembly. The Australian Labor Party
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
proposed a 40 member parliament with 25 members in the House of Assembly and 15 members in the Legislative Council. The Labor Party proposal was backed by many business groups and the Legislative Council as it would reduce the chance of a minority government. Rundle however refused to support Labors proposal, as it was likely to lead to his downfall. One Liberal member, Bob Cheek
Bob Cheek
Robert Reginald 'Bob' Cheek was leader of the Opposition Tasmanian Liberal Party from 20 August 2001 until he lost his seat in the July 2002 election. It was the first time that a major party leader lost their seat in a Tasmanian election since 1903.Cheek was first elected to Tasmanian parliament...
' crossed the floor to support Labor's proposal; he was later forced to resign from his position as secretary for small business. The Rundle government was unable to get support from the Legislative Council for its alternatives and wasn't able to abandon the issue, so they later decided to support Labor's bill. In a speech Rundle stated "While this new model isn't perfect, at least a party with 10% of the vote will no longer control the state" . The reduction in the size of parliament increased the required quota for election from 12.5% to 16.7% and made it more difficult for Green members to be elected. Rundle called an election immediately after declaring support knowing that the Greens would pass a no confidence vote against him. Tasmanian Greens
Tasmanian Greens
The Tasmanian Greens are a political party in Australia which developed from numerous environmental campaigns in Tasmania, including the flooding of Lake Pedder and the Franklin Dam campaign...
leader Christine Milne
Christine Milne
Christine Anne Milne is an Australian Senator and deputy leader of the Australian Greens.Christine Milne first came to public attention for her role in opposing the building of the Wesley Vale pulp mill near Bass Strait in North Western Tasmania on the basis of its allegedly harmful environmental...
claimed Rundle had 'betrayed her trust to deliberately remove a group of Tasmanians from politics for the Liberals' own gain' .
After the size of parliament was reduced, Rundle lost the following 1998 state election and became opposition leader. He held this position until July 1999 and retired just before the 2002 state election.
The Rundle government is credited for its numerous reforms; including legalising homosexual acts in private
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
, reforming gun laws, the Bass link initiative, signing the Regional Forests Agreement, a small move towards more conservation in Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
, and the handling of the Port Arthur massacre.
External links
Proportional Representation Society of Australia - Parliamentary reform process.