# Tony Cole > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tony_Cole > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Tony_Cole.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Cole > Source revision: 1348488658 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) This article is about the Australian public servant. For the songwriter, see [Tony Cole (musician)](/source/Tony_Cole_(musician)). **Anthony Stuart Cole** (17 March 1947 – 8 November 2025) was an Australian public servant. He served the Commonwealth in various capacities for over 25 years. ## Background Cole was born in [Macksville, New South Wales](/source/Macksville,_New_South_Wales) on 17 March 1947.[1] He attended [Macksville High School](/source/Macksville_High_School).[1] He died on 8 November 2025, at the age of 78.[2] ## Career In 1968, Cole graduated with a Bachelor of Economics degree from the [University of Sydney](/source/University_of_Sydney) and joined the [Department of the Treasury](/source/Treasury_(Australia)).[3][4] From 1979, Cole spent two years as a senior [World Bank](/source/World_Bank) official, saying these years were crucial in developing his views on economic policy.[5] Shortly after in 1983 Cole was appointed principal private secretary to [Treasurer](/source/Treasurer_of_Australia) [Paul Keating](/source/Paul_Keating), working in the role until October 1985.[4][6] He was appointed the thirteenth Secretary of the Department of the Treasury in 1991, remaining in the role until 1993 when he transferred to another role as Secretary of the [Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services](/source/Department_of_Health,_Housing,_Local_Government_and_Community_Services) (later [Department of Human Services and Health](/source/Department_of_Human_Services_and_Health)).[4][7] There was speculation at the time that Cole was removed as Treasury Secretary due to evidence he gave to a Senate inquiry into Victoria's debt blowout, the Treasurer, [John Dawkins](/source/John_Dawkins), denied the suggestion, stating that his move was just a normal part of the re-establishment of administration following an election.[8] Cole left the public service in 1994, aged 47.[4] When he left, John Taylor, the Commonwealth Auditor-General at the time, told media "it's a tragedy that somebody of the standing and even future potential of Tony Cole should be lost to public service".[9] After leaving the public sector, Cole was a Senior Investment Consultant and Executive in Mercer's investment consulting business for 17 years, including heading the business in the Asia Pacific region for more than five years.[3] He served as Non-Executive Director for Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation and Australian Ethical Investments, and was a member of the Expert Panel for the Fair Work Commission's Annual wage review. In 2013 and 2014, he was a member of the [Abbott government](/source/Abbott_government)'s [National Commission of Audit](/source/National_Commission_of_Audit), which was established to improve the Australian government's budget.[10] ## Awards In 1995, Cole was honoured as an Officer of the Order of Australia, in recognition of service to the development of public sector policy.[11] ## References 1. ["CP 617: Anthony Stuart COLE"](http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CP+617), National Archives of Australia, retrieved 17 January 2014 1. Kehoe, John (9 November 2025). ["Paul Keating leads tributes for 'Treasury star' Tony Cole"](https://www.afr.com/policy/economy/paul-keating-leads-tributes-for-treasury-star-tony-cole-20251109-p5n8uc). The Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 29 November 2025. 1. ["Executive Profile: Anthony Stuart Cole AM"](http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=227968496&ticker=AEF:AU&previousCapId=32858800&previousTitle=WOT%20CMBS%20Pty%20Ltd.), *Bloomberg Businessweek*, [archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131230131918/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=227968496&ticker=AEF:AU&previousCapId=32858800&previousTitle=WOT%20CMBS%20Pty%20Ltd.) 30 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine 1. Department of the Treasury (2001), ["1991–2001 Key outcomes and developments"](http://archive.treasury.gov.au/documents/109/HTML/Part3_6.asp), *The Treasury Annual Report 2000–2001*, [Department of the Treasury](/source/Treasury_(Australia)), [archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120704140604/http://archive.treasury.gov.au/documents/109/HTML/Part3_6.asp) 4 July 2012 at the Wayback Machine 1. Goldfinch, Shaun (2000), *Remaking New Zealand and Australian Economic Policy: Ideas, Institutions and Policy Communities*, Victoria University Press, p. 49, ISBN 0 86473 393 3 1. Burgess, Verona (8 February 1991). ["'Open mind' over Treasury posting"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129094901). *The Canberra Times*. p. 3. 1. ["CA 7660: Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services, Central Office"](http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+7660), National Archives of Australia, retrieved 2 December 2013 1. ["Dawkins denies Cole was 'punished'"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article127205361). *The Canberra Times*. Australian Associated Press. 30 March 1993. p. 2. 1. Burgess, Verona (26 June 1994). ["Departure of Cole 'should not have been allowed'"](http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article118174202). *The Canberra Times*. p. 3. 1. Hurst, Daniel (15 January 2014). ["Australia's budget is deteriorating, says commission of audit head"](https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/australias-budget-deteriorating-audit-head). *The Guardian*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20140116062225/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/jan/15/australias-budget-deteriorating-audit-head) 16 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine. 1. ["Search Australian Honours: COLE, Anthony Stuart"](https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/885098), Australian Government, retrieved 31 December 2013 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Tony Cole](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Cole) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Cole?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.