Michael Townley (politician)

Michael Townley (born 4 November 1934) is a former Australian politician and pharmacist. He served as a Senator for Tasmania from 1971 to 1987.

Townley was born in Hobart; his father Rex and uncle Athol were also prominent politicians. Before entering politics he operated several pharmacies and made regular radio and television appearances. Townley was a member of the Liberal Party but came into conflict with the state executive. At the 1970 Senate election he was elected as an independent. He initially sat on the crossbench and was re-elected in 1974, but joined the parliamentary Liberals the following year. This increase in the Coalition's numbers was one of the contributing factors to the 1975 constitutional crisis. Townley spent the remainder of his time in the Senate as a backbencher and frequently crossed the floor. He resigned from the Liberal Party and retired from the Senate before the 1987 election.