Tony Rundle

Anthony Maxwell Rundle AO (born 5 March 1939) was the Premier of the Australian 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 from his first marriage.

Rundle was first elected as member for Braddon in 1986 and reelected in the 1989, 1992, 1996 and 1998 elections. He served as Speaker of the Tasmanian House of Assembly from 1988 to 1989.

During the 1996 election, Liberal Premier Ray Groom promised he would only govern if the Liberals kept their majority. At that election, the Liberals suffered a three-seat swing and lost their majority. The Labor Party refused to enter into any agreement with the Greens, leaving a Liberal minority government backed by the Greens as the only realistic option. Groom resigned rather than break his pre-election pledge, and Rundle was elected Liberal leader. He quickly reached an agreement with the Greens, allowing him to become Premier.