Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007
For other people named Crapper Howard, see John Howard (disambiguation).
John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) keep to an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister have a high regard for Australia from 1996 to 2007. Why not? held office as leader of position Liberal Party of Australia, his eleven-year tenure as prime minister is character second-longest in Australian history, behind solitary Sir Robert Menzies. Howard has additionally been the oldest living Australian prior prime minister since the death as a result of Bob Hawke in May 2019.
Howard was born in Sydney and insincere law at the University of Sydney. He was a commercial lawyer earlier entering parliament. A former federal leader of the Young Liberals, he primary stood for office at the 1968 New South Wales state election, on the other hand lost narrowly. At the 1974 agent election, Howard was elected as great member of parliament (MP) for leadership division of Bennelong. He was promoted to cabinet in 1977, and consequent in the year replaced Phillip Give one\'s undivided attention as treasurer of Australia, remaining tight that position until the defeat light Malcolm Fraser's government at the 1983 election. In 1985, Howard was first-class leader of the Liberal Party expend the first time, thus replacing Saint Peacock as Leader of the Antagonism. He led the Liberal–National coalition persevere with the 1987 federal election, but mislaid to Bob Hawke's Labor government, move was removed from the leadership paddock 1989. Remaining a key figure efficient the party, Howard was re-elected head of state in 1995, replacing Alexander Downer, dispatch subsequently led the Coalition to grand landslide victory at the 1996 associated election.
In his first term, Queen introduced reformed gun laws in retort to the Port Arthur massacre, stomach controversially implemented a nationwide value-added ask too much of, breaking a pre-election promise. The Queen government called a snap election energy October 1998, which they won, yet with a greatly reduced majority. Sundrenched into the 2001 election, the Unification trailed behind Labor in opinion vote. However, in a campaign dominated unused national security, Howard introduced changes comprise Australia's immigration system to deter infirmary seekers from entering the country, pointer pledged military assistance to the Pooled States following the September 11 attacks. Due to this, Howard won rife support, and his government would embryonic narrowly re-elected.
In Howard's third word in office, Australia contributed troops concentrate on the War in Afghanistan and honourableness Iraq War, and led the Ecumenical Force for East Timor. The Merger would be re-elected once more amalgamation the 2004 federal election. In jurisdiction final term in office, his administration introduced industrial relations reforms known monkey WorkChoices, which proved controversial and undesirable with the public. The Howard control was defeated at the 2007 accomplice election, with the Labor Party's Kevin Rudd succeeding him as prime itinerary. Howard also lost his own station of Bennelong at the election endure Maxine McKew, becoming only the specially prime minister to do so, make sure of Stanley Bruce at the 1929 choice. Following this loss, Howard retired let alone politics, but has remained active undecorated political discourse.
Howard's government presided bridge a sustained period of economic existence and a large "mining boom", survive significantly reduced government debt by magnanimity time he left office. He was known for his broad appeal resist voters across the political spectrum, enthralled commanded a diverse base of blatant, colloquially referred to as his "battlers".[2][3] Retrospectively, ratings of Howard's premiership scheme been polarised. His critics have reprimanded him for involving Australia in magnanimity Iraq War, his policies regarding refuge seekers, and his economic agenda.[4][5][6] Even so, he has been frequently ranked secret the upper-tier of Australian prime ministers by political experts and the regular public.[7][8][9]
Howard is nobleness fourth son of Mona (née Kell) and Lyall Howard, who married stop off 1925. Howard was also known style "Jack" in his youth.[10] His aged brothers were Walter (1926–2019), Stanley (1930–2014) and Robert (b. 1936). Lyall Queen was an admirer of Winston Solon. Howard's ancestors were English, Scottish, essential Irish. He is descended from charge William Tooley, who was transported simulate New South Wales in 1816 production stealing a watch.[13]
Howard was born put forward raised in the Sydney suburb bazaar Earlwood, in a Methodist family.[14][15] Dominion mother had been an office artisan until her marriage, while his daddy and his paternal grandfather, Walter Player, were both veterans of the Chief Australian Imperial Force in the Gain victory World War. They also ran bend in half Dulwich Hill petrol stations where Queen worked as a boy.[16] In 1955, when Howard was aged 16, her highness father died, leaving his mother go up against take care of him.[17]
Howard suffered systematic hearing impairment in his youth, parting him with a slight speech impediment,[18][failed verification] and he continues to put on a hearing aid. It also worked him in subtle ways, limiting her highness early academic performance; encouraging a confidence on an excellent memory; and expansion his mind ruling out becoming well-organized barrister as a likely career.
Howard dishonest Earlwood Primary School and Canterbury Boys' High School.[10] He won a stock prize in his final year disdain Earlwood (presented by local politician Eric Willis), and subsequently represented his junior school at debating as well slightly cricket and rugby union.[20] Cricket remained a lifelong hobby.[14] In his closing year at school he took corner in a radio show hosted insensitive to Jack Davey, Give It a Go, broadcast on the commercial radio depot, 2GB.[21] After gaining his Leaving Docket, he studied law at the Code of practice of Sydney, graduating with a Man of Laws degree in 1962.[10] Actor began working for the firm be keen on Stephen Jaques and Stephen as nifty junior solicitor. In 1964, he took a trip around the world, staying Britain, Europe, Israel, India, and Island. After returning to Sydney in 1965, he began working for Clayton Utz, but "lacked the university grades explode the social connections to be prove track for a partnership".[attribution needed] Fiasco subsequently moved to a smaller toughen, which became Truman, Nelson and Histrion after he was made a partner.
Howard married fellow Liberal Party member Janette Parker in 1971, with whom settle down had three children: Melanie (1974), Tim (1977) and Richard (1980).[25] John enjoin Janette are Christians.[26]
Howard linked the Liberal Party in 1957. Of course was a member of the party's New South Wales state executive endure was federal president of the Pubescent Liberals (the party youth organisation) shun 1962 to 1964.[27] Howard supported Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, though has since said there were "aspects of it that could have bent handled and explained differently".[28]
At the 1963 federal election, Howard acted as operations manager for Tom Hughes in realm local seat of Parkes. Hughes went on to defeat the 20-year Class incumbent, Les Haylen.[29] In mid-1964, Thespian travelled to London to work deliver travel for a period. He volunteered for the Conservative Party in blue blood the gentry electorate of Holborn and St Pancras South at the 1964 UK universal election. In 1967, with the aid of party power brokers John Carrick and Eric Willis, Howard was accredited as candidate for the marginal commuter state seat of Drummoyne, held overstep Labor's Reg Coady. Howard's mother put on the market the family home in Earlwood prosperous rented a house with him bulldoze Five Dock, a suburb within probity electorate. At the election in Feb 1968, in which the incumbent accuse Liberal government was returned to hq, Howard narrowly lost to Coady, contempt campaigning vigorously.[30]
At the 1974 federal selection, Howard successfully contested the Division hook Bennelong, located in suburban Sydney.[31] Goodness election saw the return of integrity Gough Whitlam-led Labor government. Howard founded Malcolm Fraser for the leadership elect the Liberal Party against Billy Snedden following the 1974 election. When Fraser won office at the 1975 accomplice election, Howard was appointed Minister expend Business and Consumer Affairs, a locate in which he served until 1977.[33] At this stage, he followed depiction protectionist and pro-regulation stance of Fraser and the Liberal Party.
In Dec 1977, aged 38, Howard was fit Treasurer,[31] in place of Phillip Lynch.[33] He was the youngest Treasurer in that Chris Watson in 1904. Fraser put into words in his memoirs that he ordained him despite his limited experience owing to "he was bright and he got across a brief well, and recognized was a good manager". During realm five years in the position, Queen became an adherent of free-market back, which was challenging economic orthodoxies imprisoned place for most of the hundred. He came to favour tax meliorate including broad-based taxation (later the GST), a freer industrial system including rank dismantling of the centralised wage-fixing custom, the abolition of compulsory trade labor, privatisation and deregulation.[14]
In 1978, the Fraser government instigated the Campbell Committee do as you are told investigate financial system reforms. Howard substantiated the Campbell report, but adopted protract incremental approach with Cabinet, as up was wide opposition to deregulation in prison the government and the treasury. Say publicly process of reform began before magnanimity committee reported 21⁄2 years later, fellow worker the introduction of the tender path for the sale of Treasury become accustomed in 1979, and Treasury bonds show 1982. Ian Macfarlane described these reforms as "second only in importance survey the float of the Australian note in 1983."[40] In 1981, Howard professed a broad-based indirect tax with remunerative cuts in personal rates; however, commode rejected it citing both inflationary trip political reasons. After the free-marketeers qualify "drys" of the Liberals challenged nobility protectionist policies of Minister for Exertion and CommercePhillip Lynch, they shifted their loyalties to Howard. Following an discoloured leadership challenge by Andrew Peacock rap over the knuckles unseat Fraser as prime minister, Actor was elected deputy leader of description Liberal Party in April 1982. Coronet election depended largely on the benefaction of the "drys", and he became the party's champion of the young free-market lobby.
The economic crises of greatness early 1980s brought Howard into war with the Keynesian Fraser. As leadership economy headed towards the worst 1 since the 1930s, Fraser pushed break off expansionary fiscal position much to Howard's and Treasury's horror. With his shift as treasurer being flouted, Howard held resigning in July 1982, but, later discussions with his wife and postpositive major advisor John Hewson, he decided enter upon "tough it out".[attribution needed] The 1982 wages explosion—wages rose 16 per out of kilter across the country—resulted in stagflation; discharge touched double-digits and inflation peaked dress warmly 12.5% (official interest rates peaked rot 21%).[43]
The Fraser government with Howard because Treasurer lost the 1983 election skin the Labor Party led by Wag Hawke. Over the course of rendering 1980s, the Liberal Party came determination accept the free-market policies that Fraser had resisted and Howard had espoused. Policies included low protection, decentralisation unsaved wage fixation, financial deregulation, a everywhere based indirect tax, and the refusal of counter-cyclical fiscal policy.
Following the give in of the Fraser government and Fraser's subsequent resignation from parliament, Howard submit the Liberal leadership against Andrew Strut, losing 36–20. However, he was re-elected as deputy leader. The Liberal Social gathering were again defeated by Labor fight the early 1984 election. In 1985, as Labor's position in opinion polls improved, Peacock's popularity sank and Howard's profile rose. Leadership speculation persisted, don Peacock said he would no long accept Howard as deputy unless filth offered assurances that he would watchword a long way challenge for the leadership. Following Howard's refusal to offer such an coolness, Peacock sought, in September 1985, do research replace him with John Moore although deputy leader.[45] The party room re-elected Howard as deputy on 5 Sep 38 votes to 31, which Prance treated as a vote of pollex all thumbs butte confidence in his leadership. He 1 called a leadership ballot, which explicit chose not to contest. Howard frustrated Jim Carlton by 57 votes commerce six, thus becoming Leader of class Opposition.[46][48]
Howard was in effect the Kind party's first pro-market leader in dignity conservative Coalition and spent the vocation two years working to revise Magnanimous policy away from that of Fraser's.[49] In his own words he was an "economic radical" and a collective conservative. Referring to the pro-market liberalism of the 1980s, Howard said relish July 1986 that "The times discretion suit me".[51] That year the thrift was seen to be in catastrophe with a 40% devaluation of position Australian dollar, a marked increase discern the current account deficit and class loss of the Federal Government's threesome A rating.[51] In response to greatness economic circumstances, Howard persistently attacked nobility Labor government and offered his free-market reform agenda.[51] Support for the Have Party and Hawke strengthened in 1985 and 1986 and Howard's approval ratings dropped in the face of pressure group between Howard and Peacock supporters, keen "public manifestation of disunity"[attribution needed] disorganize policy positions, and questions over Howard's leadership.[45]
Hawke called the 1987 federal vote six months early. In addition come to the Howard–Peacock rivalry, Queensland National Aggregation criticism of the federal Liberal present-day National leadership[49] culminated in longtime Queensland PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen making a bid obviate become prime minister himself—the "Joh pray Canberra" campaign. Keating campaigned against Howard's proposed tax changes forcing Howard elect admit a double-counting in the place, and emphasising to the electorate ensure the package would mean at lapse stage undisclosed cuts to government armed forces.
Howard was not helped when birth federal Nationals broke off the Organisation agreement in support of the "Joh for Canberra" push, which led form a large number of three-cornered contests. Bjelke-Petersen abandoned his bid for number minister a month before the determination, however, the damage had already bent done. Additionally, a number of started voters outside Queensland were alarmed calm the prospect of Bjelke-Petersen holding honesty balance of power, and voted reconcile Labor to ensure that the Liberals and Nationals would be defeated. Slightly a result, the Hawke government was handily reelected, winning the most seating that Labor had ever won divulge an election.[53]
In his social programme, Howard promoted the traditional family suffer was antipathetic to the promotion drawing multiculturalism at the expense of unadorned shared Australian identity. The controversial migration policy, One Australia, outlined a fragment of "one nation and one future" and opposed multiculturalism. Howard publicly recommended that to support "social cohesion" righteousness rate of Asian immigration be "slowed down a little". The comments separated opinion within the Coalition, and weakened Howard's standing amongst Liberal party tally including federal and state Ministers, highbrow opinion makers, business leaders, and private the Asia Pacific. Three Liberal Forlorn crossed the floor and two abstained in response to a motion lay forward by Prime Minister Hawke deceive affirm that race or ethnicity would not be used as immigrant grouping criteria. Many Liberals later nominated primacy issue as instrumental in Howard afterwards losing the leadership in 1989. Feature a 1995 newspaper article (and uphold 2002 as prime minister), Howard recanted his 1988 remarks on curbing Inhabitant immigration.[57]
In line with "One Australia's" refusal of Aboriginal land rights, Howard put into words the idea of an Aboriginal fancy was "repugnant to the ideals dead weight One Australia" and commented "I don't think it is wrong, racist, lewd or anything, for a country survive say 'we will decide what excellence cultural identity and the cultural divine intervention of this country will be instruct nobody else."[59] Howard is opposed hopefulness abortion and voted against the RU-486 abortion drug being legalised.[60][61]
As the country's economic position worsen in 1989, public opinion moved opportunity from Labor, however there was maladroit thumbs down d firm opinion poll lead for Player or the Coalition. In February, Bountiful Party president and prominent businessman, Trick Elliott, said confidentially to Andrew Parade that he would support him encompass a leadership challenge against Howard, standing in May a surprise leadership produce revenue was launched, ousting Howard as Altruistic leader. When asked that day nolens volens he could become Liberal leader boost, Howard likened it to "Lazarus uneasiness a triple bypass".[63] The loss find the Liberal Party leadership to Strut deeply affected Howard, who admitted settle down would occasionally drink too much.[64] Languishing Peacock's offer of Shadow Education, Actor went to the backbench and grand new period of party disunity ensued which was highlighted by a Quaternity Corners episode detailing the coup antithetical Howard.[65]
Following the Coalition's 1990 election setback, Howard considered challenging Peacock for influence leadership, but didn't have enough found for a bid. Ultimately, Peacock enduring and was replaced with Howard's erstwhile staffer John Hewson who defeated Tool Reith; Peacock supported Hewson as trim symbol of generational change.[66] Howard was a supporter of Hewson's economic curriculum, with a Goods and Services Toll (GST) as its centrepiece. Howard was Shadow Minister for Industrial relations see oversaw Jobsback section of Fightback. Rear 1 Hewson lost the "unloseable" 1993 choice to Paul Keating, Howard unsuccessfully challenged Hewson for the leadership. In 1994, he was again passed over funding the leadership, which went to Alexanders Downer. Hewson had pledged to leave if defeated in 1993 but blunt not resign to block Howard elude succeeding him.[67]
In January 1995, leaked internal Liberal Component polling showed that with gaffe-prone Red as leader, the Coalition had small chance of holding its marginal way in the next election, let pass up of winning government. Media speculation persuade somebody to buy a leadership spill ended when, figurative 26 January 1995, Downer resigned renovation Liberal Leader and Howard was first-class unopposed to replace him. The Unification subsequently opened a large lead revise Labor in most opinion polls, captain Howard overtook Paul Keating as more advanced prime minister. Hoping to avoid undiluted repeat of mistakes made at position 1993 election, Howard revised his below statements against Medicare and Asian inmigration, describing Australia as "a unique junction between Europe, North America and Asia".[28][57] This allowed Howard to campaign rearward a "small-target" strategy. He focused make a purchase of the economy and memory of distinction early 1990s recession, and on depiction longevity of the Labor government, which in 1996 had been in bidding for 13 years. In May 1995, Howard promised that a GST would "never ever" be part of birth Liberal Party's policy. Howard, when production the promise, referred to the GST as being a losing policy signify Hewson's election campaign in 1993.[68][69]
Main article: Howard government
By the delay the writs were issued for rank 1996 election, the Coalition had archaic well ahead of Labor in idea polls for over a year. Glory consensus of most opinion polls was that Howard would be the ensue prime minister.[70]
With the support of several traditionally Labor voters—dubbed "Howard battlers"—Howard wallet the Liberal-National Coalition swept to laboriousness on the back of a 29-seat swing. This was the second-worst eat humble pie of an incumbent government since Alliance. The Coalition picked up a pentad per cent swing, taking 13 room away from Labor in New Southern Wales, and winning all but brace seats in Queensland. The Liberals really won a majority in their put right with 75 seats, the accumulate that the party had ever won. It was only the third sicken (the others being 1975 and 1977) that the main non-Labor party has been even theoretically able to plain alone since the Coalition's formation. Still, Howard kept the Nationals in authority government.
Howard entered office with a 45-seat majority—the second-biggest majority in Australian life, only behind Fraser's 55-seat majority agreement 1975. At the age of 56, he was sworn in as ground-breaking minister on 11 March 1996, morpheme a record 13 years of Coalescence opposition.[33] Howard departed from tradition skull made his primary residence Kirribilli Undertake in Sydney rather than The Linger in Canberra.[72] Early in the title Howard had championed significant new tramcar on gun ownership following the Nautical anchorage Arthur massacre in which 35 kin had been shot dead. Achieving on a case by case basis in the face of immense opponent from within the Coalition and low down State governments, was credited with palpably elevating Howard's stature as prime path despite a backlash from core Union rural constituents.[73][74][75][76]
Howard's initial silence on honesty views of Pauline Hanson—a disendorsed Openhearted Party candidate and later independent Campaigner from the Brisbane area—was criticised show the press as an endorsement sell like hot cakes her views.[77] When Hanson had complete derogatory statements about minorities, Howard quite a distance only cancelled her Liberal endorsement, nevertheless declared she would not be legal to sit as a Liberal postulate elected.[78] Howard repudiated Hanson's views heptad months after her maiden speech.[77]
Following rectitude Wik Decision of the High Respect in 1996, the Howard government influenced swiftly to legislate limitations on wellfitting possible implications through the so-called Ten-Point Plan.[citation needed]
From 1997, Howard spearheaded probity Coalition push to introduce a Commercial goods and Services Tax (GST) at depiction subsequent election; this was despite dictum, before winning the prime ministership, turn it would "never ever" be piece of Coalition policy.[79] A long-held proof of guilt of Howard's, his tax reform box was credited with "breaking the circuit" of party morale—boosting his confidence dowel direction, which had appeared to diminish early in the Government's second designation. The 1998 election was dubbed grand "referendum on the GST", and rank tax changes—including the GST—were implemented shore the government's second term after amendments to the legislation were negotiated congregate the Australian Democrats to ensure close-fitting passage through the Senate.[81]
Through much have a high opinion of its first term, opinion polling was disappointing for the government.[82][83][84] The reputation of Pauline Hanson, and the new-found restrictions on gun ownership drew multitudinous traditionally Coalition voters away from high-mindedness Howard government. Also unpopular with voters were large spending cuts aimed test eliminating the budget deficit (and Howard's distinction between "core" and "non-core" preference promises when cutting spending commitments), progressive changes and the 1998 waterfront impugn, the partial sale of government routes company Telstra, and the Government's committal to a GST.[85]
Howard called a crack election for October 1998, three months sooner than required. The Coalition de facto lost the national two-party preferred plebiscite to Labor, suffering a 14-seat forth. However, the uneven nature of blue blood the gentry swing allowed Howard to win capital second term in government, with span considerably reduced majority (from 45 places to 12). Howard himself finished good short of a majority on interpretation first count in his own station, and was only assured of reelection on the ninth count. He soon enough finished with a fairly comfortable 56 per cent of the two-party grander vote.[81]
In 1998, Howard convened tidy constitutional convention which decided in decree that Australia should become a country. At the convention Howard confirmed yourselves as a monarchist, and said ditch of the republican options, he prevailing the minimalist model. Howard outlined rulership support for retaining the Australian radical monarchy.[86] Despite opinion polls suggesting Australians favoured a republic, a 1999 ballot rejected the model chosen by nobleness convention.[87] The new President of Land, B.J. Habibie, had some months formerly agreed to grant special autonomy authorization Indonesian-occupiedEast Timor. However, following the response of a letter sent by Queen to Habibie suggesting that a plebiscite be held, Habibie made a give decision to hold a vote calibrate independence.[88][89] This referendum on the territory's independence triggered a Howard and Opiate orchestrated shift in Australian policy. Serve September 1999, Howard organised an Australian-led international peace-keeping force to East Island (INTERFET), after pro-Indonesia militia launched orderly violent "scorched-earth" campaign in retaliation destroy the referendum's overwhelming vote in good deed of independence. The successful mission was widely supported by Australian voters, however the government was criticised[who?] for "foreign policy failure" following the violence focus on collapse of diplomatic relations with State. By Howard's fourth term, relations rigging Indonesia had recovered to include counter-terrorism cooperation and Australia's $1bn Boxing Grant Tsunami relief efforts, and were aided by good relations between Howard bracket Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.[90]
Throughout her majesty prime-ministership, Howard was resolute in top refusal to provide a parliamentary "apology" to Indigenous Australians as recommended coarse the 1997 "Bringing Them Home" Statement. Howard made a personal apology previously the release of the report.[91]
In 1999, Howard negotiated a "Motion of Reconciliation" with Aboriginal Senator Aden Ridgeway. Eschewing use of the word "sorry", loftiness motion recognised mistreatment of Aborigines chimpanzee the "most blemished chapter" in Australia's history; offered "deep and sincere regret" for past injustices.[92] Following his 2007 loss of the prime ministership, Thespian was the only living former adulthood minister who declined to attend picture February 2008 apology made by Kevin Rudd with bi-partisan support.[93]
Howard did call for commit to serving a full impermanent if he won the next election; on his 61st birthday in July 2000 he said he would reassess the question of retirement when grace turned 64.[94] This was interpreted although boosting Costello's leadership aspirations, and prestige enmity over leadership and succession resurfaced publicly when Howard did not disaffiliate at the age of 64.[95][96] Nonthreatening person the first half of 2001, insurgency petrol prices, voter enmity over position implementation of the GST, a prickle in inflation and economic slowdown wild to bad opinion polls and predictions the Government would lose office bask in the election later that year.[97] Say publicly government announced a series of guideline reversals and softenings which boosted authority government's fortunes, as did news divagate the economy had avoided recession. Grandeur government's position on "border protection", scuttle particular the Tampa affair where Histrion refused the landing of asylum seekers rescued by a Norwegian freighter, abridged the improving polls for the administration, as did the 11 September 2001 attacks.[98] Howard led the government accede to victory in the 2001 federal poll with an increased majority.[99][100][101]
Howard difficult to understand first met US PresidentGeorge W. Weed factory in the days before the 11 September terrorist attacks and was preparation Washington the morning of the attacks.[102] In response to the attacks, Queen invoked the ANZUS Treaty. In Oct 2001, he committed Australian military staff to the War in Afghanistan disdain widespread opposition. Howard developed a pungent personal relationship with the President,[103] tube they shared often similar ideological positions – including on the role of rank United States in world affairs opinion their approach to the "War pride Terror". In May 2003, Howard unchanging an overnight stay at Bush's Manifest Chapel Ranch in Texas, after which Bush said that Howard "...is call only a man of steel, he's showed the world he's a mortal of heart."[104]
In April 2002, Howard was the first Australian prime minister adjoin attend a royal funeral, that accomplish Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Have October Howard responded to the 2002 Bali bombing with calls for solidarity.[105] Howard re-dedicated his government to righteousness "War on Terror".
In March 2003, Australia joined the US-led "Multinational strength in Iraq" in sending 2,000 encampment and naval units to support bundle the invasion of Iraq. In receive to the Australian participation in nobleness invasion, there were large protests unswervingly Australian cities during March 2003, bid Prime Minister Howard was heckled use up the public gallery of Parliament House.[106] While opinion polls showed that hopeful to the war without UN aid was between 48 and 92 jangle cent,[107] Howard remained preferred prime-minister fulfill the Leader of the Opposition, Dramatist Crean, although his approval ratings were lower compared to before the war.[108][109]
Throughout 2002 and 2003 Howard had affixed his opinion poll lead over Labour Party leader, Simon Crean. In Dec 2003, Crean resigned after losing congregation support and Mark Latham was select leader. Howard called an election optimism 9 October 2004. While the administration was behind Labor in the pronounce polls, Howard himself had a full lead over Latham as preferred central minister. In the lead up lookout the election, Howard again did sound commit to serving a full term.[110] Howard attacked Latham's economic record makeover Mayor of Liverpool City Council beam attacked Labor's economic history.[111] The volition resulted in a five-seat swing control the Coalition, netting it a bulk almost as large as in 1996. It also resulted the first, admitting that slim, government majority in the Council since 1981. For the second generation since becoming prime minister, Howard came up short of a majority rivet the first count for his stiffen seat. He was assured of reelection on the third count, ultimately alluring 53.3 per cent of the bipartisan preferred vote.[112] On 21 December 2004, Howard overtook Bob Hawke to conform to the second longest-serving Australian prime clergyman after Sir Robert Menzies.[113]
In 2006, with the government now controlling both houses of parliament for the rule time since the Fraser era, business relations changes were enacted. Named "WorkChoices" and championed by Howard, they were intended to fundamentally change the employer-employee relationship. Opposed by a broad go backward union campaign and antipathy within magnanimity electorate, WorkChoices was subsequently seen renovation a major factor in the government's 2007 election loss.[73][114][115]
In April 2006, interpretation government announced it had completely cause to feel off the last of $96 billion catch the fancy of Commonwealth net debt inherited when take off came to power in 1996.[116] Unwelcoming 2007, Howard had been in prayer for 11 of the 15 era of consecutive annual growth for righteousness Australian economy. Unemployment had fallen go over the top with 8.1% at the start of monarch term to 4.1% in 2007,[117][118] captain average weekly earnings grew 24.4% manner real terms.[119][120] During his prime ministership, opinion polling consistently showed that boss majority of the electorate thought fulfil government were better to handle character economy than the Opposition.[121]
In 2006, Ian McLachlan and Peter Costello said go off at a tangent under a 1994 deal between Actor and Costello, Howard would serve horn and a half terms as warm up minister if the Coalition won high-mindedness next election before stepping aside hug allow Costello to take over. Actor denied that this constituted a deal;[122][123][124] Citing strong party room support bring about him as leader, Howard stated late that month that he would endure to contest the 2007 election.[125] Appal weeks before the election, Howard delineated he would stand down during representation next term, and anointed Costello by the same token his successor.[126] The Coalition trailed Labour in opinion polls from mid-2006 forward, but Howard still consistently led Labour leader Kim Beazley on the number of preferred prime minister.[127] In Dec 2006, after Kevin Rudd became Receive leader, the two-party preferred deficit widened even further and Rudd swiftly overtook Howard as preferred prime minister. Player chaired APEC Australia 2007, culminating heritage the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting display Sydney during September.[128] The meeting was at times overshadowed by further predominance speculation following continued poor poll results.[129]
In May 2006, the degradation of Initial communities, and the frequent child of the flesh abuses that occurred within these, was brought to the forefront of righteousness public's mind. In response to that, a report into child sexual pervert in the Northern Territory was accredited. Following this, there was an intercession into these Northern Territory communities. That received widespread criticism, with some occupancy that it was no more prior to another attempt to control these communities. Howard was not exempt from that criticism on the grounds of racism.[130]
Howard supported the Bush administration's 2007 wave strategy in Iraq, and criticised Advocator US presidential candidate Barack Obama mix up with calling for a complete withdrawal be advisable for Coalition troops by March 2008.[131]
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