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{{Infobox_PM | name=John Winston Howard
| country=Australia
| image=johnhoward.jpg
| order=25th [[Prime Minister of Australia]]
| term=[[11 March]] [[1996]]
| before=[[Paul Keating]]
| successor=
| date_birth=[[26 July]] [[1939]]
| place_birth=[[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
| spouse=[[Janette Howard]]
| party=[[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]]
}}
{{otheruses}}
'''John Winston Howard''' (born [[26 July]], [[1939]]) is an [[Australia]]n politician and the country's current [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]]. He previously served as [[Treasurer of Australia|Treasurer]] from 1977–1983 and was Leader of the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] from 1985 until 1989. Elected again as Leader in 1995, Howard became the 25th Prime Minister of Australia after defeating incumbent [[Paul Keating]] in the election of [[2 March]], [[1996]]. His government has been subsequently re-elected in the elections of [[Australian legislative election, 1998|1998]], [[Australian legislative election, 2001|2001]] and [[Australian legislative election, 2004|2004]], thus making Howard the most electorally successful Prime Minister since [[Robert Menzies|Sir Robert Menzies]]. After his victory in 2004, his government gained control of both houses of the [[Parliament of Australia|Parliament]] from July 2005.
==Early life==
Howard grew up in [[Earlwood, New South Wales|Earlwood]], a suburb of [[Sydney]], where he attended Earlwood Public School. He was given the middle name Winston in honour of the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[statesman]] [[Winston Churchill]]. His father, Lyell Howard and his paternal grandfather, Walter Howard, were both veterans of the [[First Australian Imperial Force|First AIF]] in [[World War I]]. They later ran a [[petrol]] station and mechanical workshop in [[Dulwich Hill, New South Wales|Dulwich Hill]], where John Howard worked as a boy. Lyell Howard died during John's teenage years, leaving his mother to take care of John (or "Jack" as he was known in the family) and his three brothers.
John Howard suffered from a [http://www.pm.gov.au/News/Speeches/2000/DeafnessReasearch1102.htm hearing impairment] in his youth ([[List of deaf people]]), and this has left him with a slight speech impediment, something that he shares with namesake [[Winston Churchill]].
John attended Canterbury Boys' High School. In his final year at the school he took part in a radio show hosted by [[Jack Davey]], ''Give It A Go'' broadcast on the commercial radio station, [[2GB]]. A tape of the show survives and in it Howard demonstrates an early ability to think quickly on his feet trading unscripted humour with the experienced compere and delighting the audience. After gaining his Leaving Certificate, he studied law at the [[University of Sydney]]. Howard joined the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] in [[1957]].
==Rising politician==
[[Image:Younghoward.jpg|thumb|250px|John Howard as "boy Treasurer" in the Fraser government, 1977]]
Howard practised for some years as a [[solicitor]] and simultaneously held office in the [[New South Wales]] [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] on the State Executive and as President of the [[Young Liberals (Australia)|Young Liberals]] [http://www.younglibs.org.au/lifemembers.php] (1962 -64), the party youth organisation. At 25, Howard was ineligible for [[National Service Act (1964)|conscription]] and Howard did not join either the permanent military or reserve forces during this period.
In 1967 he was endorsed as candidate for the suburban state seat of [[Drummoyne]] which at the time was held by the [[Australian Labor Party|ALP]]. Howard's mother sold the family home in Earlwood and took up residence with him in a house within the electorate. At the election in February 1968, Howard was defeated by the ALP candidate although the incumbent state Liberal government was returned to office for a second term.
Howard continued living at home until [[1971]] when he married fellow Liberal Party member [[Janette Howard|Janette Parker]], with whom he has three children. Although Janette has maintained a low profile during her husband's prime ministership — in part due to health problems — she is widely seen as having a major influence on his decision making.
Howard's next attempt to enter parliament was at a Federal level and was successful. He was elected to the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] as the Member of Parliament for the Sydney suburban seat of [[Division of Bennelong|Bennelong]] at the Federal election in May [[1974]]. When the [[Malcolm Fraser|Fraser]] government came to power in December [[1975]], Howard was appointed Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs, and in December [[1977]], he was appointed [[Treasurer of Australia|Treasurer]] at the age of 38 and he became known as "the boy Treasurer". In April [[1982]], he was elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.
During his period as Treasurer, Howard became a staunch adherent of [[Thatcherism]] (usually known as "[[economic rationalism]]" in Australia). Like Thatcher, he embraced the fiscal policies of [[neoliberalism]] without the more "[[libertarian]]" perspectives of the Chicago school on social issues. He favoured cuts to personal income tax and business tax, lower government spending, the dismantling of the centralised wage-fixing system, the abolition of compulsory [[trade unionism]] and the [[privatization]] of government-owned enterprises, views that have dominated his subsequent career. He became frustrated with the more moderate and pragmatic [[Malcolm Fraser|Fraser]], who would not embark on these steps. In [[1982]], Howard nearly resigned in protest at [[Malcolm Fraser|Fraser's]] big-spending pre-election budget. After the [[1983]], defeat of the [[Malcolm Fraser|Fraser Government]], Howard was attacked by the incoming [[Bob Hawke|Hawke]] government for allegedly lying to Parliament about the size of the budget deficit left by the outgoing Fraser government.
==Success, failure, success==
Following Fraser's resignation, Howard contested the Liberal leadership, but was defeated by [[Andrew Peacock]]. He remained Deputy Leader and became Deputy Leader of the Opposition. Peacock was defeated by Hawke at the [[Australian legislative election, 1984|1984 election]] and although he had lost by less than most commentators expected, Peacock began to worry that Howard was planning to challenge for the leadership. In May [[1985]], he tried to remove Howard from the Deputy Leadership position, expecting him to challenge for the Leadership. The plan backfired when Howard stood again for the deputy's position, and won. This put Peacock in an untenable position and he resigned, leaving Howard to take the leadership unopposed.
Howard described himself as "the most conservative leader the Liberals have ever had," and said that "the times will suit me." In addition to his economic views, he became known as a strong social conservative, supporting the [[nuclear family]] against the so-called "permissive society", and was also sceptical of the promotion of [[multiculturalism]] at the expense of a shared national identity. Howard is strongly opposed to [[gay marriage]], or recognising "watered down" same sex [[civil union]]s.[http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/push-to-legalise-gay-marriage/2005/12/31/1135915725605.html] Although his views on social issues have been less strongly and publicly advocated over the years, he has never abandoned them.
During [[1985]] and [[1986]], with unemployment rising and the economy stagnant, Howard appeared to be making ground on the government. However, Howard's chances of winning the [[1987]] election were destroyed when the arch-conservative Premier of [[Queensland]], Sir [[Joh Bjelke-Petersen]], launched a populist "[[Joh for Canberra]]" campaign, temporarily splitting and discrediting the conservative forces. Hawke won the [[1987]] election comfortably.
In [[1988]], Howard's position was weakened by controversy following a speech in which he claimed that the rate of [[Asia]]n immigration into Australia was too high. In May [[1989]], Peacock launched a surprise leadership coup against Howard. After a brief stint on the [[backbench]], Howard returned to the [[Coalition (Australia)|Coalition]] [[front bench]], but his leadership career seemed to be over, particularly when Peacock lost the [[1990]] election and the Liberals turned to a new, younger leader, Dr [[John Hewson]]. Howard himself compared the possibility of a political comeback to "[[Lazarus]] with a [[heart surgery|triple bypass]]".
Howard was an enthusiastic supporter of Hewson's economic program, with a [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|Goods and Services Tax]] (GST) as its centrepiece. When Hewson lost the "unloseable" [[Australian legislative election, 1993|1993 election]] to [[Paul Keating]], Howard was again passed over for the leadership, which went to [[Alexander Downer]]. Downer failed to dent Keating's dominance and in January [[1995]] he resigned as leader. The party's Deputy Leader, [[Peter Costello]] was unwilling to step up to the leadership, and Howard became leader for the second time.
As Opposition Leader, Howard adopted a more pragmatic position than he had done during his first term in the leadership. He repudiated his earlier statements against [[Medicare (Australia)|Medicare]] and in favour of a GST. In a "small target" strategy, he attacked the "arrogance" and the "elitist" nature of Keating's "big picture" politics - issues like foreign relations with Asia, Australian republicanism, multiculturalism and reconciliation with [[indigenous Australians]] - which, Howard believed, were irrelevant to ordinary voters. With his slogan "For all of us", Howard signalled his preference for ordinary, mainstream Australia over the unspoken "all of them" of "elite special interest groups".
==Howard as Prime Minister==
===The 1996 election campaign===
With the electorate still suffering from reform fatigue, a recession, and then record interest rate repayments, Howard won over many traditional Labor voters, sometimes called the "Howard battlers" (roughly equivalent to the American [[Reagan Democrat]]s), and scored a sweeping victory at the [[Australian legislative election, 1996|1996 elections]] over Keating to become Prime Minister of Australia at the age of 56.
In the lead up to the [[1996]] election, [[Pauline Hanson]], the Liberal candidate for [[Division of Oxley|Oxley]] in Queensland was disendorsed because of comments she made to ''The Queensland Times''.
Howard was slow to express views on Hanson; his initial public reaction was to comment that he thought that it good that the years of "[[political correctness]]" were finally over. Howard's lukewarm response was variously interpreted as either indicating tacit support for the sentiments, or as a disingenuous attempt to harness their popularity among certain segments of the electorate.
Hanson was elected as an independent member and used her first speech to Parliament to attack multiculturalism and reconciliation and allege that "we are in danger of being swamped by Asians" [http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?id=41338&table=HANSARDR]. She later formed [[One Nation Party|Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party]].
===First term: 1996–1998===
[[Image:john_howard.jpg|thumb|240px|John Howard in the United States in 1997]]
Howard and his cabinet immediately announced the previous government had left behind a "budget black hole" that necessitated considerable reduction in almost all areas of government expenditure. Training and education programs developed under the Keating government were scrapped, funding for indigenous bodies was reduced, and a system of "work for the dole" requiring social security seekers to engage in work was introduced. Prudent economic management remained the government's strongest claim throughout its term, and a prolonged period of economic growth (which Keating claimed was simply the payoff from his earlier reforms), combined with strong budget surpluses, remain an essential element in its popularity.
In [[1996]], Australia was stunned when 35 people were killed by [[Martin Bryant]] in the [[Port Arthur massacre]]. Howard responded by compelling the [[Parliaments of the Australian states and territories|state governments]] to outlaw the ownership of [[Semi-automatic firearm|semi-automatic rifles]], [[semi-automatic shotgun]]s and [[pump action shotguns|pump-action shotguns]]. The ban and an accompanying 'gun buy-back scheme' was popular with the general population but not with [[Gun politics in Australia|predominantly Coalition-voting gun owners]].
The Howard government did not have a majority in the [[Australian Senate|Senate]], instead facing a situation where legislation had to be negotiated past either the [[Australian Democrats]] or the [[Australian Greens|Greens]]. The Senate blocked or delayed much of the Government's legislation, including the partial privatisation of the government-owned telecommunications company, [[Telstra]]; the modification of [[industrial relations]] laws to promulgate individual contracts; increases in university fees; large funding cuts in the [[1996]] and [[1997]] budgets; a 30% private [[health insurance]] rebate; and the extinguishment of [[native title]] on [[pastoral lease]]s (following the [[High Court of Australia|High Court]]'s [[Wik Decision|Wik]] decision).
Howard had come to office promising to improve standards of integrity among ministers and politicians, introducing a strict 'Code of Ministerial Conduct' at the start of his term. The strictness of his code backfired when a succession of seven of his ministers ([[Jim Short]], [[Geoff Prosser]], [[John Sharp (Australian politician)|John Sharp]], [[David Jull]], [[Brian Gibson (Australian politician)|Brian Gibson]], [[Bob Woods]] and [[Peter McGauran]]) were required to resign following breaches of the code, concerning a variety of 'travel rorts' (misuse of the ministerial travel allowance) and conflicts of interest between ministerial responsibilities and share ownership. Prosser had attempted to use his ministerial office to further his own business interests. Another two ministers ([[John Moore (Australian politician)|John Moore]] and [[Warwick Parer]]) were discovered to have breached the code, but at that point Howard opted to ignore it, rather than lose more of his front bench.
===The 1998 election campaign===
The [[Australian legislative election, 1998|1998 election]] campaign was dominated by two issues. One was reform of the tax system, including the introduction of a broad based [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|goods and services tax]] (a broad-based [[value-added tax]]), which Howard had several years earlier said he would "never, ever" introduce; the other was [[One Nation Party|One Nation]].
At the October 1998 election, the Liberal-National Coalition, suffered a large swing, largely driven by a scare campaign against the Goods and Services Tax. Labor leader [[Kim Beazley]] won 51% of the national [[Australian electoral system|two-party preferred vote]], but the Liberals ran an effective marginal electorate [[election campaign|campaign]] and were returned with a comfortable majority in parliament.
Although One Nation had previously surprised commentators with a resounding performance in the [[Queensland state election, 1998|Queensland state election]], its national campaign was poorly administered and One Nation failed to win any House of Representatives seats. An electoral redistribution had rendered Pauline Hanson's seat of Oxley unwinnable. She stood in neighbouring electorate [[Division of Blair|Blair]] but was defeated.
===Second term: 1998–2001===
Despite Howard's essentially domestic focus, external issues intruded significantly into Howard's second term when the people of [[East Timor]] voted for independence in a [[United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor|United Nations sponsored referendum]]. [[Indonesia]]n militia, covertly backed by Indonesian troops, began a brutal campaign of repression. After enormous public pressure, Howard broke with the previous bi-partisan policy of unquestioning support for Indonesia and Australia contributed a significant peacekeeping/policing force to protect the inhabitants against pro-Indonesian militias, attracting praise domestically and in several countries, but angering some Indonesians and [[Islamism|Islamists]].
The other major issue during Howard's second term was the implementation of the GST, replacing a range of taxes on specific goods with a flat rate on almost all goods and services. All GST revenue is distributed to the states. This was intended to give the States responsibility for their own finances and end the annual funding squabble between the States and the Federal Government. The Federal Government continues to determine the share of GST revenue received by each state.
Howard was only able to pass the GST legislation through the Senate after making a deal with [[Australian Democrats]]' leader Senator [[Meg Lees]] to exclude a number of items from the GST, most notably food. This increased the complexity of the GST, which had already increased the frequency and detail of reporting required by small businesses.
As a partial offset for the GST, a $7,000 "first home buyers grant" [http://www.firsthome.gov.au/] was introduced in [[2000]]. The grant was paid at settlement, and Australian banks chose to count it towards a buyer's 10% deposit, increasing the borrowing limit of applicants by $70,000 and feeding a housing boom already sparked by world-wide low interest rates.
Most of the resentment for the GST fell on the Democrats, but the Howard government was trailing in the polls in [[2001]]. The government lost a by-election in the normally safe electorate of [[Division of Ryan|Ryan]] in [[Queensland]], and Labor governments were elected in all the states and territories (except [[South Australia]], which fell to Labor in 2002). In response to the declining position at this time, a number of policy changes were made, including the abandonment of petrol [[excise]] [[indexation]] and increased government benefits to self-funded retirees.
===The 2001 election campaign===
A major change in Howard's political fortunes occurred in August and September [[2001]], when the government refused permission for the Norwegian freighter [[MV Tampa|MV ''Tampa'']], carrying a group of asylum seekers picked up in international waters, to enter Australian waters. Howard ordered the ship be boarded by [[Australian Special Air Service Regiment|Australian special forces]] and spoke strongly of the need for Australia to 'decide who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come'. This brought [http://www.un.org/spanish/aboutun/organs/ga/56/verbatim/a56pv65e.pdf censure from the government of Norway] at the [[United Nations]] as failure to meet obligations to distressed mariners under international law. The [[September 11, 2001 attacks|11 September terrorist attacks]] further increased hostility towards asylum-seekers fleeing [[Islam|Islamic]] countries.
The government introduced tough "border protection" legislation. [[Kim Beazley]] and the Labor opposition found themselves in a difficult political position. An electorally significant fraction of the ALP's working-class voters backed the Howard line on asylum-seekers, while the party's middle-class supporters were overwhelmingly opposed to it. [[Wedge issue|Wedged]] between the two camps, Beazley offered half-hearted support to Howard's legislation, infuriating the middle class without winning back any of the anti-immigration vote from Howard.
At the [[Australian legislative election, 2001|November 2001 elections]] the Coalition was re-elected, with a larger majority than in 1998.
===Third term: 2001–2004===
In the two years after the [[2001]] election the Howard government continued its tough line on national security and "border protection" issues, while seeking to further its agenda of conservative social policies and pro-business economic reforms. Despite its victory in [[2001]], the government still did not have a Senate majority, and its ability to pass planned legislation was restricted.
Howard's reputation was damaged in what became known as the [[children overboard]] affair, when it was demonstrated that one of his claims during the asylum-seeker debate, that asylum-seekers had "thrown their children overboard" in order to force the government to allow them to land in Australia, was untrue and that he had most likely been aware of this during the election campaign. Howard also faced a difficult issue in the allegations that Howard's choice as [[Governor-General of Australia|Governor General]], Dr [[Peter Hollingworth]], in his previous job as [[Anglican]] Archbishop of Brisbane, had refused to investigate Anglican priests accused of [[pedophilia|paedophilia]] in various churches: eventually Hollingworth was forced to resign the governor-generalship amidst a storm of controversy that threatened to damage the credibility of his office.
So long as the issue of national security was prominent in the minds of voters and the Australian economy remained strong, Howard retained a clear political advantage over his opponents. Throughout [[2002]] and [[2003]] he kept his lead in the opinion polls over the then Labor leader, [[Simon Crean]]. Following the October [[2002]] [[2002 Bali terrorist bombing|Bali bombing]], Howard placed a renewed emphasis on his government's approach to national security.
In March [[2003]], Howard joined the [[United Kingdom]] in sending troops and naval units to support the [[United States]] in the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]] and the removal of [[Saddam Hussein]] from power. Howard spoke strongly about the need to rid Iraq of the [[weapons of mass destruction]] [http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?ID=2523921&TABLE=HANSARDR], which he said he had evidence that Saddam's regime possessed.
Australian opinion was deeply divided on the war and large public protests against the war occurred. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/04/13/1050172471571.html] Several senior figures from the Liberal party, including [[John Valder]], a former president of the Liberal Party, and Howard's former friend and colleague [http://sunday.ninemsn.com.au/sunday/political_transcripts/article_1622.asp], former Opposition Leader [[John Hewson]] [http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s806819.htm] and former Prime Minister [[Malcolm Fraser]] [http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/08/23/1061529379618.html] publicly criticised Howard over Iraq. John Valder's criticism was particularly strong, claiming that Howard should be tried and punished as a [[War crime|war criminal]] [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/07/18/1090089035899.html]. Howard's credibility and due diligence was questioned when no weapons of mass destruction were discovered in Iraq.
On [[Anzac Day]] [[2004]], Howard made a surprise visit to Australian defence personnel in Iraq.
This came amid a bitter debate in Australia over the war following opposition leader [[Mark Latham]]'s promise to return Australian troops by [[Christmas]]. Howard portrayed Latham as a threat to the [[U.S.-Australia alliance]]. After the 2004 federal election, it was revealed that Latham believed the [[ANZUS]] alliance was a legacy of the [[White Australia Policy]].
The [[2004]]–[[2005|05]] budget increased family payments and tax cuts for middle income earners, and contributed to a recovery by the government in the opinion polls.
In August 2004, Howard's proposed amendment to the Marriage Act -- to ban foreign and domestic same-sex unions from being recognised as marriages within Australia -- was passed with the support of the [[Australian Labor Party]], although several [[Labor Left]] MPs had expressed their opposition to the amendment, including the [[Premier of Western Australia]] Dr [[Geoff Gallop]]. The Greens and Democrats opposed the amendment.
===The 2004 election campaign===
On [[29 August]] [[2004]], Howard called an election for [[9 October]]. The Labor opposition, after the resignation of [[Simon Crean]] and the election of [[Mark Latham]] as leader in December [[2003]], had established a lead in some opinion polls by March [[2004]], and the government entered the [[Australian legislative election, 2004|election campaign]] behind Labor in all the published national opinion polls. Howard himself still had a large lead over Latham as preferred Prime Minister in those same polls and most commentators regarded the result as being too close to call.
During the campaign, Howard strongly attacked Latham's economic record as [[Mayor]] of [[City of Liverpool, New South Wales|Liverpool City Council]], persuading the electorate that election of a Labor government could see a rise in [[interest rate]]s. This was a significant threat, because total borrowing by home owners had risen when rates had dropped, meaning that even though rates were historically low, loan repayments were higher than at the peak of interest rates under Keating. Any significant increase in rates could be expected to hurt badly.
A notable aspect of the campaign was the absence of retaliatory "mudslinging" from the Labor Party against the various attacks on Latham's credibility, due to his rather notorious past, possibly to help promote the image of Latham as a reformed and professional man. Due to this approach they severely lost credibility in the campaign, which was compounded by Latham's publicity stunt of signing a guarantee stating that interest rates would not inflate under a Latham leadership, when it was common knowledge at the time that the interest rates increase was controlled by the Reserve Bank and unavoidable.
In the closing period of the election campaign, Howard promised a large spending program on health, education, small business and family payments with the aim of trumping Latham's policy strengths. Some economists criticised Howard for the scale of his election spending promises, saying the Thatcherite small government man of the 1980s and the 1996 budget had mutated into a pure political pragmatist, willing to spend big on 'middle class welfare' to win votes.
The election resulted in an increased Coalition majority in the House of Representatives and also a government majority in the Senate, the first government majority in that chamber since the [[1977]] election. The strength of the Australian economy under Howard's leadership may have helped him to retain the "battler" vote which, combined with his strong conservative base, gave the Coalition a comfortable election victory of 52.74% of the vote on a two party preferred basis against Labor's result of 47.26% [http://results.aec.gov.au/12246/results/HouseTppByState-12246.htm]. Howard's social conservatism also helped him to win vital preferences from the socially conservative party [[Family First]].
===Fourth term: 2004–present===
[[Image:Howard and Bush.jpg|thumb|200px|John Howard with [[President of the United States|U.S. President]] [[George W. Bush]] on [[May 16]], [[2006]], during Howard's seventh official visit to the [[White House]] as Prime Minister. From left to right: Mrs. [[Janette Howard]], [[First Lady of the United States|U.S. First Lady]] [[Laura Bush]], Howard, and Bush.]]
On [[21 December]] [[2004]] Howard became Australia's second-longest serving Prime Minister, having led the government against three Labor opposition leaders, Beazley, Crean and Latham.
The Government response to the [[2004 Indian Ocean earthquake]] was widely acclaimed in Australia and abroad, including the Opposition shadow foreign affairs spokesperson, [[Kevin Rudd]], who said that an [[Australian Labor Party]] government could not have done more.
On 1 July 2005 the new Senate came into effect, giving the Government control of both houses. This is the first Australian government since the days of the Fraser government that is able to pass any legislation it wishes, without having to first gain the approval of another party or hold a [[double dissolution]] election.
Legislation which had previously been blocked and has now been passed includes:
*Full [[privatisation]] of the 51.8% government-owned telecommunications company [[Telstra]];
*[[Australian workplace relations reforms, 2006|Industrial relations reforms]];
*[[Voluntary Student Unionism]] which removed compulsory union fees at universities.
Other legislation which had previously been blocked in the Senate includes:
*Revising media ownership laws so as to remove restrictions on media companies having control over multiple different media.
In 2005, Howard announced fundamental and wide-ranging [[Australian Industrial Relations Law Reform 2005|changes to industrial relations laws]] which have since been the subject of a national campaign by the union movement and state Labor governments.
Despite the coalition's majority in the Senate, a number of the proposed laws were in doubt, due to the opposition that has been voiced by Queensland National Party Senator [[Barnaby Joyce]] who had threatened to vote against the sale of Telstra. Joyce raised concerns in relation to the industrial relations announcements but eventually supported.
On February 22, 2005 Howard announced that Australia would increase its military commitment to Iraq [http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2005/s1308325.htm] with an additional 450 troops, when he had anticipated that no such increases would occur. [http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/Interview820.html] On April 14, another firm pre-election assurance was broken when it was announced that the Medicare safety net policy presented to the electorate prior to the election, and statements by the Health Minister [[Tony Abbott]] that the policy was "an absolutely rock solid, iron-clad commitment", would now be adjusted to provide fewer benefits.
In late 2005, John Howard ruled out same-sex civil unions under his government stating that "That's why we amended the Marriage Act [in August 2004]." He went on to explain that he believed "very strongly that marriage is exclusively a union for life of a man and a woman to the exclusion of others. That's the common understanding of marriage in the Judeo-Christian tradition, and I would be opposed to the recognition of civil unions."[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17640813%255E1702,00.html]
In October 2005, the [[Paul Volcker Committee|Volcker Inquiry]] into the [[United Nations]] [[Oil-for-Food Programme]] revealed that Australian company [[Australian Wheat Board|AWB Ltd]] had paid the single largest illicit "kickback" to the Iraq regime. Howard, resisting calls for a Royal Commission, subsequently established a [http://www.ag.gov.au/agd/WWW/UNOilForFoodInquiry.nsf/Page/Home Commission of Inquiry] under Terence Cole QC to determine if Australian companies had broken the law. Howard rejected criticisms that the Inquiry Terms of Reference were too narrow (i.e. did not permit adequate investigation into the role played by Government Ministers and their delegates)[http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/PM-slams-Labor-for-bagging-Cole-terms/2006/04/13/1144521445505.html].
===Unfinished business===
Throughout the first half of 2005, the Howard government faced increasing pressure regarding the controversial [[Mandatory detention in Australia|mandatory detention]] program. It was revealed in February that a mentally ill German citizen and Australian Resident, [[Cornelia Rau]] had been held in detention for nine months. The government then established the closed non-judicial [[Palmer Inquiry]] promising that the findings would be made public. In May, it was revealed that another Australian, subsequently identified as [[Vivian Alvarez]] had been deported from Australia and that the department responsible was unable to locate her. By late May, it was revealed that an additional 200 cases of possible wrongful detention had been referred to the Palmer Inquiry.[http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200505/s1376464.htm] [http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,15410506-2,00.html] Also at this time Howard faced backbench revolt from small numbers of his own party demanding that reforms be made.[http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Howard-explodes-at-MPs-revolt/2005/05/24/1116700714825.html] On June 2, it was revealed [http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200506/s1383366.htm] that Cornelia Rau had been identified by the department as an Australian citizen 3 months prior to her final release from detention. On June 9, Australia's longest serving detainee, [[Peter Qasim]], was moved to a psychiatric hospital. [http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2005/s1388761.htm]
In mid 2005, John Howard and his cabinet began private discussions of new anti-terror legislation which includes modification to the [http://www.comlaw.gov.au/ComLaw/Legislation/ActCompilation1.nsf/0/E746934B6FDD043DCA257050001331FB?OpenDocument ''Crimes Act 1914''.] In particular, sections relating to [[sedition]] are to be modified.
Howard might expect to control the timing of his Anti-Terrorism legislation announcement. However, on [[14 October]] [[2005]], [[Jon Stanhope]] (Chief Minister of the ACT) took the controversial step of publishing the confidential draft of the [http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/docs/B05PG201_v281.pdf Federal Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005] on [http://www.chiefminister.act.gov.au/default.asp his website]. This action was both praised and criticised. Citing concerns about rights, he later refused to sign off on a revised version of the legislation, becoming the only State and Territorial leader to not sign. The House of Representatives recently passed the anti-terrorism legislation which will soon be debated in the Senate before its final implementation in December 2005.
On [[2 November]] [[2005]], Howard held a press conference to announce that he had received information from police and [[ASIO]] that indicated an imminent terrorist attack in Australia. Within a week, on [[8 November]], anti-terrorist raids were held across Melbourne and Sydney, with 17 suspected terrorists arrested [http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5478,17176303%255E661,00.html], including [[Abdul Nacer Benbrika]]. These raids, according to Howard, demonstrated the need for his Anti-Terrorism Bill. According to the Greens and Democrats, the raids demonstrate that no further legislation is needed as even the current legislation was sufficient to allow ASIO and the AFP to act in some cases. Critics have also said that the press conference was held on the same day as the [[Australian Industrial Relations Law Reform 2005|changes to industrial relations laws]] were introduced to Parliament, even though much of the intelligence was not new, suggesting it was an attempt to divert attention away from the IR law changes.
On Tuesday [[15 November]] protest rallies were held around the country, in opposition of the Howard government’s planned changes to industrial relations laws. Approximately 560,000 people turned out to the protests, largely organised by various unions and concerned community organisations with the help of Labor and the Greens. These laws were passed without substantial change.
=== For as long as the party wants me ===
It is believed by some that Howard had a "[[Kirribilli agreement]]" to hand over the leadership to Treasurer, [[Peter Costello]].{{fact}} There is speculation that Howard would prefer to see the leadership go to someone more in line with his own social views - [[Tony Abbott]] being suggested as such a person.{{fact}} There has also been debate on whether John Howard will hand over the leadership to ensure a good political legacy. Despite this, Howard has said that he will remain leader as long as he has the confidence of his party.
While Howard was on a trip to Ireland, Canada and the United States in May 2006, there was speculation in the Australian media that the trip was a "farwell tour", signalling an intention by the Prime Minister to retire - possibly in December. However, both during the trip and afterwards Howard indicated his intention to continue in his present capacity.
==See also==
{{wikiquote}}
*[[List of national leaders]]
*[[First Howard Ministry]]
*[[Second Howard Ministry]]
*[[Third Howard Ministry]]
*[[Fourth Howard Ministry]]
==Further reading==
*[[David Barnett (Australian journalist)|David Barnett]] and [[Pru Goward]], ''John Howard, Prime Minister'', Viking, 1997 ISBN 0670873896
*[[Nick Cater]] ''The Howard Factor'', Melbourne University Publishing, 2006. ISBN 052285284X.
*[[Tony Kevin]] ''A Certain Maritime Incident the sinking of SIEV X'', Scribe Publications, 2004. ISBN 1920769218.
*[[Margo Kingston]] ''Not Happy, John! defending Australia's democracy'', Penguin, June 2004. ISBN 0143002589.
*[[Marion Maddox]] ''God Under Howard: The rise of the religious right in Australian politics'', Allen & Unwin, St Leonards, February 2005. ISBN 1741145686.
*[[David Marr (journalist)|David Marr]] & [[Marian Wilkinson]] ''Dark Victory''. ISBN 0143002589
*[[Andrew Wilkie]], ''Axis of deceit'', [[Schwarz Publishing]], [[Melbourne, Australia|Melbourne]], [[2004]]. In series [[Black Inc. Agenda]]. ISBN 09750769-2-2 ([[Weapons of mass destruction|WMD]] and the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]])
==External links==
* [http://www.pm.gov.au/ Prime Minister of Australia: John Howard] Prime Minister's official website
* [http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/meetpm.asp?pmId=25 Australia's Prime Ministers: John Howard] National Archives of Australia
* [http://www.aph.gov.au/house/members/firstspeech.asp?id=ZD4 John Howard's maiden speech to parliament]
* [http://www.liberal.org.au/ Official Liberal Party website]
* [http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2003/03/03-03-11.shtml John Hewson Criticises Howard Iraq Policy] australianpolitics.com
* [http://www.abc.net.au/sydney/stories/s1582217.htm John Howard's decade of wit] Real Audio of Sydney [[ABC Local Radio]] program with [[James Valentine]] and guests.
* [http://www.australianpolitics.com/sounds/2002/06/02-06-09_howard-and-jack-davey-1955.ram Audio of John Howard on a [[Jack Davey]] Radio quiz, at www.australianpolitics.com]
* [http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20060518/howard_canada_060518/ John Howard addresses a joint session of parliament in Canada], the first Australian Prime Minister to do so since [[John Curtin]] in 1944.
==References==
* [http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?ID=2199337&TABLE=HANSARDR Hansard, 2003-02-04]: Howard's speech to parliament in which he puts forward his claims of threat from Iraq as reasons for Australian support of the subsequent invasion of Iraq in 2003.
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{{Incumbent succession box | title=Member for [[Division of Bennelong|Bennelong]] | before=[[John Cramer (Australian politician)|Sir John Cramer]] | start=1974| years=1974}}
{{succession box | title=[[Treasurer of Australia]]| before=[[Phillip Lynch]] | after=[[Paul Keating]] | years=1977–1983}}
{{succession box | title=[[Liberal Party of Australia|Leader of the Liberal Party]] | before=[[Andrew Peacock]] | after=[[Andrew Peacock]] | years=1985–1989}}
{{Incumbent succession box | title=[[Liberal Party of Australia|Leader of the Liberal Party]]| before=[[Alexander Downer]] | after=| start=1995}}
{{Incumbent succession box | title=[[Prime Minister of Australia]]| before=[[Paul Keating]] | after=| start=1996}}
{{end box}}
{{AustraliaPM}}
{{AustraliaFederalLiberalLeader}}
{{Persondata
|NAME=Howard, John Winston
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=Prime Minister of Australia
|DATE OF BIRTH=[[26 July]] [[1939]]
|PLACE OF BIRTH=[[Sydney]], [[Australia]]
|DATE OF DEATH=
|PLACE OF DEATH=
}}
[[Category:1939 births|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Australian Anglicans|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Current national leaders|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Liberal Party of Australia politicians|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Living people|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Members of the Cabinet of Australia|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Members of the Australian House of Representatives for Bennelong|Howard]]
[[Category:New South Wales Federal politicians|Howard, John]]
[[Category:People of Sydney|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Prime Ministers of Australia|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Treasurers of Australia|Howard, John]]
[[Category:Ministers of Australia|Howard, John]]
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