The sad news was announced by his family earlier this morning.
They say the former Nationals leader passed away peacefully in the Heritage Lodge aged care facility in Murwillumbah.
He was 90 years old.
Born in December 1929, Mr Anthony was elected as the Member for Richmond at age 27.
He went on to lead the Country-turned-National party, serving as Deputy Prime Minister in the Gorton and Fraser governments.
Mr Anthony’s family say they are proud of the legacy he left, particularly in regional Australia.
READ THE ANTHONY FAMILY’S FULL STATEMENT:
The family of former Australian Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Nationals Doug Anthony advise with heavy hearts of his passing this morning.
Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Doug Anthony has died at the age of 90. Mr Anthony was leader of the Country Party/National Party for 12 years and deputy prime minister for nine, influencing Coalition policies for much of the 1970s and 1980s. In a statement, Mr Anthony s family said he died peacefully in the Heritage Lodge aged-care home in Murwillumbah, northeast NSW. Although Doug was privileged to serve the people of Australia in high office, he always considered his family to be his greatest legacy and contribution to the world, the family statement said. He was very much a man of the Tweed region, and it is fitting that he should depart this life from within the community that he loved so much.
Australia s longest serving deputy prime minister Doug Anthony has died, aged 90.
His family confirmed the former Nationals leader died peacefully in the Heritage Lodge aged-care home in Murwillumbah in far northern NSW on Sunday morning.
Mr Anthony was leader of the Country Party/National Party for 12 years and deputy prime minister for nearly 10, influencing coalition policies for much of the 1970s and 1980s.
He served under six prime ministers, starting with Sir Robert Menzies.
Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leaderDoug Anthony (pictured in 1999 with wife Margot) died on Sunday, aged 90
Prime Minister Scott Morrison hailed Mr Anthony as a man with no pretences who was passionate about regional Australia .
Former deputy prime minister and Nationals leader Doug Anthony has died at the age of 90. Mr Anthony was leader of the Country Party/National Party for 12 years and deputy prime minister for nine, influencing Coalition policies for much of the 1970s and 1980s. In a statement, Mr Anthony s family said he died peacefully in the Heritage Lodge aged-care home in Murwillumbah, northeast NSW. Although Doug was privileged to serve the people of Australia in high office, he always considered his family to be his greatest legacy and contribution to the world, the family statement said. He was very much a man of the Tweed region, and it is fitting that he should depart this life from within the community that he loved so much.