Who was Tony Staley? Former Liberal Party president, dies aged 83

Anthony Allan Staley best known as Tony Staley, a former Liberal Party national president has died at age 83. Staley was born on 15 May 1939 and died 3 May 2023.

Staley was a Liberal Party member.

From 1970 to 1980, he represented the Victorian seat of Chisholm and served in the Fraser government as Minister for the Capital Territory (1976-1977) and Minister for Posts and Telecommunications (1977-1980). From 1993 to 1999, he was the Liberal Party’s national president.

Staley was elected to parliament in the 1970 Chisholm by-election, which was called after the death of incumbent Liberal MP Wilfrid Kent Hughes.

He was the Member for Chisholm from 1970 to 1980, Minister for the Capital Territory in the Fraser Government from February 1976 to December 1977, and then Minister for Post and Telecommunications until his retirement from Parliament.

At a low point in the Liberal Party’s history, he was persuaded to become its federal president in 1993, a position he held until 1999. The Liberals had a successful period during which John Howard became leader and became one of Australia’s longest-serving prime ministers.

He was partially paralyzed and unable to walk without crutches after a horrific car accident in 1990. A lengthy rehabilitation period ensued, involving years of hospitalization and physiotherapy. He was supported by his then-wife Maggie.

Mr Staley went on to have a successful business and public life after leaving politics, serving on the boards of Mitsubishi Motors, Alexander Stenhouse, Ogilvie and Mather, and the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia, among others.