He was a Liberal Party member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly from 1986 to 1989, representing the electorate of Mount Coot-tha.
He subsequently studied arts and education at the University of Queensland, undertook national service in the Royal Australian Navy in 1956, and served in the naval reserve from 1956 to 1960.
Coot-tha after an electoral redistribution, despite a serious challenge from their former coalition partner, the National Party.
[1] Schuntner returned to education after his election defeat working as the Manager, Review Administration, Board of Senior Secondary School Studies.
Schuntner was Chairman of the Queensland Teachers' Credit Union continuously from December, 1985 until retiring in 2008.