Mel Bungey

Melville Harold Bungey (30 August 1934 – 17 September 2025) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the House of Representatives from 1974 to 1983, representing the seat of Canning for the Liberal Party.

Early life Bungey was born in Gnowangerup, Western Australia on 30 August 1934. He was educated at Wesley College, Perth, and went on to complete a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Western Australia, majoring in economics.

Bungey served in the Citizen Military Forces from 1951 to 1958. Bungey crossed the floor fifteen times during his period in parliament. According to a study of parliamentary floor crossings from 1950 to 2019, Bill Wentworth was the only other member of the House of Representatives to cross the floor on more occasions.

Bungey's seat became increasingly marginal during his time in parliament, following a series of redistributions that saw Canning lose rural areas and became increasingly urban, taking in Perth's southern suburbs of Armadale and Rockingham. He was defeated by the Australian Labor Party (ALP) candidate Wendy Fatin at the 1983 federal election.

Personal life and death Bungey and his wife Leith bred prize-winning chihuahuas. He served as president of the Canine Association of Western Australia and was a licensed dog show judge with the Australian National Kennel Council, judging shows in Australia and overseas.

Bungey retired to Roleystone. He died on 17 September 2025, at the age of 91.