Tony Messner

{{Short description|Australian politician (1939–2024)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Tony Messner | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AM}} | image = | office = Administrator of Norfolk Island | term_start = 4 August 1997 | term_end = 30 July 2003 | monarch = Elizabeth II | governor-general = Sir William Deane<br>Peter Hollingsworth<br>Michael Jeffrey | predecessor = Alan Kerr | successor = Grant Tambling | office2 = Minister for Veterans' Affairs | prime_minister2 = Malcolm Fraser | term_start2 = 3 November 1980 | term_end2 = 11 March 1983 | predecessor2 = Evan Adermann | successor2 = Arthur Gietzelt | title3 = Senator for South Australia | term_start3 = 13 December 1975 | term_end3 = 17 April 1990 | successor3 = John Olsen | birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1939|9|24}} | birth_place = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia | death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|2024|10|11|1939|9|24}} | death_place = | spouse = | party = Liberal | relations = | children = | alma_mater = | occupation = | profession = Accountant | signature = | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Anthony John Messner''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (24 September 1939 – 11 October 2024) was an Australian politician and government minister.

==Life and career== Messner was born in Melbourne and educated at a state primary school in Queensland, Pulteney Grammar School, Adelaide and the South Australian Institute of Technology.<ref>{{cite book | title =Who's who in Australia | publisher =Crown Content | year =2008 | location =North Melbourne | pages =2303 | isbn = 978-1-74095-160-9 }}</ref>

Messner was elected as a Senator for South Australia at the 1975 election. He was appointed Minister for Veterans' Affairs in November 1980 and held that position until the defeat of the Fraser government at the March 1983 election. He resigned from parliament in April 1990.<ref name="Au Senate">{{Cite Au Senate|Sen id=messner-anthony-john|name=MESSNER, Anthony John (1939– )|first=Tim|last=Bryant|year=2017|access-date=2023-01-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title =Members of the Senate since 1901 | publisher =Parliament of Australia | work=Parliamentary Handbook | url =http://www.aph.gov.au/library/handbook/historical/senate/kirk.quirke.htm | accessdate = 18 January 2008 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070907105640/http://www.aph.gov.au/library/handbook/historical/senate/kirk.quirke.htm  |archivedate = 7 September 2007}}</ref>

Messner was Administrator of Norfolk Island from August 1997 to July 2003. He was made a member of the Order of Australia in 2004 for "service to the Australian Parliament, to Norfolk Island as Administrator, and to the community, particularly veterans and their families".<ref>{{Cite It's an Honour|ausawardid=1056042|recipient=The Honourable Anthony John Messner|award=Member of the Order of Australia|date=2004-01-26|postnominal=AM|access-date=2023-01-08}}</ref>

Messner died on 11 October 2024, at the age of 85.<ref>{{cite web |title=Messner, Hon. Anthony John, AM |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Hansard/Hansard_Display?bid=chamber/hansards/28074/&sid=0159 |website=Parliament of Australia |access-date=28 January 2025 |date=25 November 2024}}</ref>

==Notes== {{Reflist}}

{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef| before=Evan Adermann}} {{s-ttl | title= Minister for Veterans' Affairs | years=1980–1983}} {{s-aft| after=Arthur Gietzelt }} {{s-end}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Messner, Tony}} Category:1939 births Category:2024 deaths Category:People educated at Pulteney Grammar School Category:University of South Australia alumni Category:Liberal Party of Australia members of the Parliament of Australia Category:Members of the Australian Senate for South Australia Category:Members of the Australian Senate Category:20th-century Australian politicians Category:Administrators of Norfolk Island Category:Members of the Order of Australia