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He is a WAR CRIMINAL
{{otherpeople2|John Howard (disambiguation)}}
{{seealso|Howard Government}}
{{Infobox Prime Minister
|honorific-prefix = <small>]</small><br />
|name = John Winston Howard<br />
|honorific-suffix = <small>], ]</small>
|image = Howard2003.JPG
|order = 25th ]
<br /> Elections: ], ]—]
|term_start = ] ]
|term_end = ] ]
|deputy = ] (1996-99)<br />] (1999-2005)<br />] (2005-07)
|predecessor = ]
|successor = ]
|order2 = 29th
|office2 = Treasurer of Australia
|term_start2 = ] ]
|term_end2 = ] ]
|predecessor2 = ]
|successor2 = ]
|constituency_MP3 = ]
|parliament3 = Australian
|term_start3 = ] ]
|term_end3 = ] ]
|predecessor3 = ]
|successor3 = ]
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|07|26|df=y}}
|birth_place = ], ], ]
|death_date =
|death_place =
|party = ]
|spouse = ]
|alma_mater = ]
|profession = ]
|Religion = ]
}}

'''John Winston Howard''' <small>]</small> (born ], ]) was the 25th ] from ], ] to ], ]. He is the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after ].

Howard was a member of the ] from ] to ], representing the ], ]. He served as ] in the government of ] from 1977–1983. He was Leader of the Liberal Party and ] Opposition from 1985–1989, which included the ] against ]. He was re-elected as Leader of the Opposition in 1995.

Howard led the ]-] ] to victory at the ], defeating ]'s ] government and ending a record 13 years of ] ]. Howard was sworn in as Prime Minister on ] ]. Howard's government was re-elected at the ], ] and ] elections. Major issues for the ] were taxation, industrial relations, immigration, the Iraq war, and aboriginal relations.

Howard was defeated at the ] by Labor's ], making him the second Australian Prime Minister, after ] in 1929, to lose his own seat. The Coalition also lost government at the same election to the ] led by ].

==Early life==
]
John Howard is the fourth son of ] and Mona (''née'' Kell). His parents were married in 1925. His eldest brother Stanley was born in 1926, followed by Walter in 1929, and Robert (Bob) in 1936. Lyall Howard was an admirer of ],<ref name="True_Believer">{{cite book |last=Garran |first=Robert |title=True Believer: John Howard, George Bush and the American Alliance |year=2004 |publisher='']'' |isbn=1741144183 |pages=Page 10 }}</ref> and a sympathiser with the ].<ref name="van_Onselen">{{cite book |last=Peter |first=Peter |authorlink=Peter van Onselen |coauthors=Errington, Wayne |title=John Winston Howard The Definitive Biography |origdate= |origyear=2007 |origmonth=July |url= |format=Hardcover |accessdate=2008-07-15 |edition= |publisher=] |language=English |isbn=9780522853346 |pages=7-9 |chapter=1 }}</ref>

Howard grew up in the ] suburb of ]. His mother had been an office worker until her marriage. His father and his paternal grandfather, Walter Howard, were both veterans of the ] in World War I. They also ran two ] petrol stations where John Howard worked as a boy.<ref name="SMH_Petrol">{{cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/stay-in-touch/tin-soldered-for-the-king-in-howards-home/2006/06/18/1150569210879.html?page=fullpage | title=Tin soldered for the King in Howard's home | publisher='']'' | date=] | accessdate=2007-08-29}}</ref>
Lyall Howard died in 1955 when John was sixteen, leaving his mother to take care of John<ref>Birnbauer, Bill, "Rise Of A Common Man", ''The Age'', ] ]</ref> (or "Jack" as he was also known).<ref name="Canterbury">{{cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/17/1095394004427.html | title=Canterbury tales| publisher=''Sydney Morning Herald'' | date=] | accessdate=2007-09-13}}</ref>

Howard suffered a hearing impairment in his youth, leaving him with a slight ].<ref name="transcript-lab_opening">{{cite web | url=http://www.pm.gov.au/News/Speeches/2000/DeafnessReasearch1102.htm | title=Transcript of the Prime Minister the Hon. John Howard MP, opening of the child deafness research laboratories at The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne | publisher=PM News Room | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-08}}</ref> It also influenced him in subtle ways, limiting his early academic performance; encouraging a reliance on an excellent memory; and in his mind ruling out becoming a ] as a likely career.<ref>Errington, Wayne; ] (2007). John Winston Howard: The Biography. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press, pp 21, 35</ref>
]
Howard attended the publicly funded ]s Earlwood Primary School and ].<ref name="SMH_Cantebury">{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/17/1095394004427.html | title=Canterbury tales | publisher=''The Sydney Morning Herald'' | date=18 September 2004 | accessdate=2007-09-05}}</ref>
Howard won a citizenship prize in his final year at Earlwood (presented by local politician ]), and subsequently represented his secondary school at debating as well as ] and ].<ref name="The Sports Factor">{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/rn/sportsfactor/stories/2001/401143.htm| title=Beazley and Howard- Politics and Sport | publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date=26 October 2001 | accessdate=2007-03-13}}</ref> In his final year at school he took part in a radio show hosted by ], ''Give It a Go'' broadcast on the commercial radio station, ], and a recording of the show survives.<ref name="young_howard_recording">{{cite web | url=http://www.australianpolitics.com/sounds/2002/06/02-06-09_howard-and-jack-davey-1955.ram | title=Sixteen-year-old John Howard on a popular radio quiz show compered by Jack Davey {{RAMlink}} | publisher=australianpolitics.com | date=9 June 2002 | accessdate=2006-07-08}}</ref> After gaining his Leaving Certificate, he studied law at the ], graduating in ],<ref name="SMH_Cantebury"/> and subsequently practising as a solicitor for twelve years.<ref name ="NMA"/>

Howard married fellow Liberal Party member ] in ], with whom he had three children: Melanie (1974), Tim (1977) and Richard (1980).<ref name="NAA_JanetteHoward"> {{cite web | url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/meetpm.asp?pmId=25 | title=Australia's Prime Ministers : John Howard | publisher=] | accessdate=2007-11-27 }}</ref>

==Entry into politics ==
Howard joined the ] in ]. He held office in the ] Liberal Party on the State Executive and served as President of the ] (1962–64), the party youth organisation.<ref name="young_libs">{{cite web | url=http://www.younglibs.org.au/lifemembers.php | title=Young Liberals Life Members & Past Presidents | publisher=] |date=2006 | accessdate=2006-07-08}}</ref> Howard supported ] in the ], although has since said there were "aspects of it that could have been handled and explained differently".<ref name=4corners>{{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2004/s1212701.htm | title=John Howard Interview{{ndash}} 1996 | publisher='']'' | date=19 February 1996 | accessdate=2006-12-26}}</ref>

At the ], Howard acted as campaign manager in his local seat of ] for the successful candidacy of ] who defeated the 20 year Labor incumbent.

In 1967 with the support of party power brokers, ] and ], he was endorsed as candidate for the marginal suburban state seat of ], held by the ]. Howard's mother sold the family home in ] and rented a house with him at ], a suburb within the electorate. At the election in February 1968, in which the incumbent state Liberal government was returned to office, Howard failed to defeat the sitting member, despite campaigning vigorously.<ref name='Drummoyne_1968'>{{cite web | url=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/resources/nswelectionsanalysis/1968/Drummoyne.htm | title=Drummoyne{{ndash}} 1968 | publisher=] | date= 25 July 2007 | accessdate=2007-07-25 }}</ref> Howard and his mother subsequently returned to Earlwood, moving to a house on the same street where he grew up.

==Member of Parliament==
At the ], Howard successfully contested the Sydney suburban seat of ] and became a Member of Parliament in the ]. When ]'s government came to power in December 1975, Howard was appointed ], a position in which he served until 1977.<ref name="NMA"/>

==Federal Treasurer (1977–1983)==

In December 1977, at the age of 38, Howard was appointed ], for which he became known as "the boy Treasurer".<ref name="NMA"/> In this role, he was a strong adherent of ], and he favoured cuts to personal ] and business tax, lower ], the dismantling of the centralised wage-fixing system, the abolition of compulsory ], and the ] of ].

In 1979, Treasurer Howard established a committee of inquiry, the Campbell Committee, to investigate financial system reforms. The process of reform began before the Committee reported 2 1/2 years later, with the introduction of the tender system for the sale of Treasury notes in 1979, and Treasury bonds in 1982. Ian Macfarlane (Governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia 1996-2006) described these reforms as "second only in importance to the float of the Australian dollar in 1983." <ref>http://www.abc.net.au/rn/boyerlectures/stories/2006/1769925.htm</ref>

In April 1982, Howard was elected Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party.

During Howard's tenure as Treasurer, the 90-day cash rate peaked at 21% on ] ], while home loan mortgage rates were capped at 13.5%, and inflation peaked at 12.5% in September 1982.<ref>{{cite web | title =F01 Interest rates and yields – money market | publisher =] | url =http://www.rba.gov.au/Statistics/Bulletin/F01hist.xls | format =Excel file | accessdate = 2007-08-29 }}</ref> ] commented, in 2007, that "The Howard treasurership was not a success in terms of interest rates and inflation... he had not been a great reformer."<ref name="smh_treasurer">{{cite web | url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/howard-failed-as-treasurer-says-costello/2007/07/18/1184559867197.html | title=Howard failed as treasurer, says Costello | publisher=''The Sydney Morning Herald'' | date=19 July 2007 | accessdate=2007-07-25}}</ref>

==Opposition years (1983-1996)==
Following the ] and ]'s subsequent resignation from parliament, Howard contested the Liberal leadership but was defeated by ]. Remaining Deputy Leader of the parliamentary party, Howard became Deputy Leader of the ]. After electoral defeat by ] and Labor at the ], Peacock sought, in September 1985, to replace Howard with John Moore as Deputy Leader. The party room re-elected Howard to the position. Peacock resigned and Howard became Opposition Leader unopposed on ].<ref>, Alan Ramsay, ''Sydney Morning Herald'', March 6 2004</ref>

Howard came to be known as an economic liberal{{ndash}} in his own words, an "economic radical"{{ndash}} yet an avowed ].<ref name=markus89>{{ cite book | last = Markus | first = Andrew | title = Race: John Howard and the Remaking of Australia | publisher = ] | date = 2001 | pages = 85-89 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=UA0-5v3JN0QC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Andrew+Markus&sig=jN8JfRaczJHKwNw17Yd59Bj1XOI#PPA4,M1 | isbn = 1864488662}}</ref> He opposed "]" and the promotion of ] at the expense of a shared ]. In July 1986, Howard famously said that "The times will suit me".<ref name='SMH20030818_TimesDoSuitHim'>{{ cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/17/1061059710322.html?from=storyrhs
|title=The sad times do suit him; he made them|first =Anne |last = Summers|publisher =''Sydney Morning Herald''|date=18 August 2003}}</ref> However, his chances of unseating Hawke at the ] were ruined when the arch-conservative Premier of ] Sir ] launched a populist "]" campaign that divided the federal conservative political movement and saw Hawke comfortably re-elected.

On ] ], from Opposition, Howard named and launched a new immigration and ethnic affairs policy, titled '']''. The policy detailed a vision of "one nation and one future", including opposition to multiculturalism and rejection of Aboriginal land rights.<ref name=markus85>{{ cite book | last = Markus | first = Andrew | title = ''Race: John Howard and the Remaking of Australia'' | publisher = ] |date=2001 | pages = 85-89 | isbn = 1864488662}}</ref> Howard's comments that same month about Asian immigration led to controversy and divisions within the ]: {{quote|"I do believe that if it is{{ndash}} in the eyes of some in the community{{ndash}} that it's too great, it would be in our immediate-term interest and supporting of social cohesion if it were slowed down a little, so the capacity of the community to absorb it was greater".<ref name="Aus_spice">{{cite web | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21293182-28737,00.html | title=Asian influence spices up contest | publisher='']'' | date=] ] | accessdate=2007-07-27}}</ref>}}

Other members of Howard's ], including Shadow Finance Minister ] and Deputy Opposition Leader ] also spoke out about Asian immigration, suggesting it must be reduced.<ref name=markus89/><ref name="Borderline">{{cite book | last =Peter | first =Mares | title =Borderline: Australia's Response to Refugees and Asylum Seekers in the Wake of the Tampa | publisher =UNSW Press | date= 2002 | pages =113 | url =http://books.google.com/books?id=XiPAMuTaQFEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=borderline&sig=xYodJJgjimhyClsnImiMwaujsCE#PPA113,M1 | isbn =0868407895 }}</ref>

On ] ], Prime Minister ] responded by introducing a parliamentary ] stating that no Australian government would use ] or ] origin as a criterion for immigration. Four members of the Liberal Party ] of parliament to vote with ]: Hon Dr Peter Baume (Senator), ], ] and ]. Two others, ] and ] abstained from the vote.<ref name="PKelly_EndOfCertainty1994">{{cite book|last=Kelly|first=Paul|authorlink=Paul Kelly (journalist)|title=The End of Certainty: Power, Politics, and Business in Australia
|origyear=1994|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=EKXBgmYeO2QC&dq|format=HTML|accessdate=2007-10-05|publisher=]
|isbn=186373757X|pages=427,457,467}}</ref>

In September 1988, Howard elaborated his opposition to multiculturalism by saying ''"To me, multiculturalism suggests that we can't make up our minds who we are or what we believe in."''<ref name=markus85/> He rejected the idea of an Aboriginal treaty as ''"repugnant to the ideals of One Australia"''<ref name="markus85"/> and commented ''"I don't think it is wrong, racist, immoral or anything, for a country to say 'we will decide what the cultural identity and the cultural destiny of this country will be and nobody else."''<ref name="SMH_cricket">{{ cite news | title = When talk of racism is just not cricket | publisher = ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' | date = 2005-12-16 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/when-talk-of-racism-is-just-not-cricket/2005/12/15/1134500961607.html | accessdate = 2007-08-19}}</ref>

Dissent within the Liberal Party over ] was believed by some political commentators to have weakened Howard's leadership.<ref name="PKelly_EndOfCertainty1994"/> In February 1989, ] approached Andrew Peacock and encouraged Peacock to launch a leadership challenge against Howard.<ref name="PKelly_EndOfCertainty1994"/> In May 1989, Peacock launched a surprise leadership coup, ousting Howard as Liberal leader. When asked that day whether he could become Liberal leader again, Howard famously likened it to ''"Lazarus with a triple bypass"''.<ref>, ], ] ]</ref>

The loss of the Liberal Party leadership to Peacock deeply affected Howard, who admitted he would occasionally drink too much. <ref name="news_drunk">{{cite web | url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22129486-2,00.html | title=Howard: 'I was drunk at work' | publisher=] | date=2007-07-25 | accessdate=2007-07-25}}</ref> After time on the ], Howard returned to the ] ]. Following the Coalition's ] loss, Peacock was replaced with former Howard staffer ].

Howard was a supporter of Hewson's economic program, with a ] (GST) as its centrepiece. After Hewson lost the "unloseable" ] to ], Howard unsuccessfully challenged Hewson for the leadership. In 1994, he was again passed over for the leadership, which went to ]. Downer failed to dent Keating's dominance and, in January ], he resigned as leader. ], deputy party leader, did not challenge for the leadership, over a decade later citing an agreement between the pair that allowed Howard to become leader for a second time unopposed. Howard said no deal had ever been made. <ref name="SMH meeting">{{ cite news |title=Power marriage on the rocks |url= http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/power-marriage-on-the-rocks/2006/07/10/1152383677668.html?page=fullpage |accessdate=2007-09-03 |date=July 11 2006 |publisher=''Sydney Morning Herald''}}</ref>

==Prime Minister==
{{main|Howard Government}}
As Opposition Leader for the second time, Howard revised his earlier statements against ] and Asian immigration.<ref name="Aus_spice">{{cite web | url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21293182-28737,00.html | title=Asian influence spices up contest | publisher=] | date=] ] | accessdate=2007-07-27}}</ref> During the campaign Howard outlined his vision of Australia in 2000 to the ]:{{quote|I want to see an Australian society that sees this country as a unique intersection of Europe, North America and Asia. Australia is incredibly lucky to have a European heritage, deep connections with North America, but to be geographically cast in the Asian/Pacific region and if we think of ourselves as that strategic intersection, then I think we have a remarkable opportunity to carve a special niche for ourselves in&nbsp;...&nbsp;in the history of the next century.<ref name=4corners/>}}

Following Howard's election to ] Leader, the ] opened a large lead over ] in most opinion polls, and Howard overtook Keating as preferred Prime Minister. Referring to the failed ] proposal for a ] (GST), Howard said:{{quote|There's no way that GST will ever be part of our policy....&nbsp;Never ever. It's dead. It was killed by the voters in the last election.<ref>, ''The World Today'', ] ]</ref>}}

Winning over many traditional Labor voters, a group termed the "]", Howard won a sweeping victory at the ], with a 26-seat swing--the second-largest defeat of an incumbent government since Federation. At the age of 56, he was sworn in as Prime Minister on ] ], ending a record 13 years of ] opposition.<ref name="NMA">{{cite news| url=http://www.nma.gov.au/education/school_resources/websites_and_interactives/primeministers/john_howard/ | title=Education: John Howard | publisher=] | date=] ] | accessdate=2007-08-14}}</ref>

In the run-up to the election, ], the Liberal candidate for ] in Queensland was disendorsed because of comments she made to ''The Queensland Times''. Howard said:{{quote|Well, I certainly believe in her right to say what she said. I thought some of the things she said were an accurate reflection of what people feel.<ref name="Hanson_Plug">{{cite web | url=http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2002/s458299.htm | title=Pauline Hanson pulls the plug as One Nation president | publisher=] | date=] ] | accessdate=2007-08-29}}</ref>}}

] in 1997]]] in 1997]]



The seat of Bennelong became home to many ] immigrants, and in May 2002, Howard retracted his 1988 comments about Asian immigration:<blockquote>My instinct is that Asian-Australians are very much part of the community now. I think it (their integration) has been quicker. I just don't hear people talking about it now, even as much as they did five years ago, and I have an electorate which is very Asian.<ref name="Aus_spice"/></blockquote>

Throughout 2002 and 2003 he kept his lead in the opinion polls over Labor leader, ].

{{see also|Australian federal election, 2004}}
On ] ], Howard called an election for ]. The Labor opposition, after the resignation of ] and the election of ] as leader in December 2003, had established a large lead in some opinion polls by March 2004, and the government entered the election campaign behind Labor in all 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 attacked Latham's economic record as ] of ]. Howard also attacked Labor's economic history.{{quote|It is an historic fact that interest rates have always gone up under Labor governments over the last 30 years, because Labor governments spend more than they collect and drive budgets into deficit&nbsp;...&nbsp;So it will be with a Latham Labor government...&nbsp;I will guarantee that interest rates are always going to be lower under a Coalition government.<ref name='TheAge20040830_PMonInterestRates'>{{cite news | last =Wade | first =Matt | title =Labor means rate rises, PM claims | publisher =''The Age'' | date =30 August 2004| url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/29/1093717840808.html | accessdate = 2007-08-29}}</ref>}}

The election result was an increased Coalition majority in the House of Representatives and the first, albeit slim, government majority in the Senate since 1981. On a two party preferred basis, the Coalition achieved 52.74% of the vote to Labor's 47.26%. However, for the second time since becoming Prime Minister, Howard himself had to go to preferences in order to win another term in his own seat. He took 49.9 percent of the first count and was only assured of reelection on the third count. Ultimately, Howard won 53.3 percent of the two-party preferred vote.<ref>http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/2004/2004repsnsw.txt</ref>

], and ] ] at the ] during ]]]

On 21 December 2004, Howard became the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after ].<ref name="ABC_favourite">{{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200412/s1269441.htm | title=PM still favourite as he celebrates milestone | publisher=ABC News | date=] ] | accessdate=2007-08-14}}</ref> The new Senate came into effect on ] ], giving a government control of both houses for the first time since the Fraser government.

Howard chaired ], culminating in the ] Economic Leaders Meeting in Sydney during September.<ref name='DPMC_APEC2007'> {{cite web|title =APEC 2007 Taskforce|date=] ]|publisher =]|url = http://www.pmc.gov.au/about_pmc/divisions/apec2007/|accessdate =2007-09-13 }} </ref> The meeting was at times overshadowed by leadership speculation following further poor poll results<ref> {{cite news|title = Leadership talk dogs PM|date= ] ]|publisher = ]|url =http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/07/2026860.htm
|accessdate =2007-09-11 }} </ref> and public criticism of security arrangements.<ref name='TheAge_APECsecurity1'> {{cite news
|title =APEC security 'has harmed Sydney image'|date=] ]|publisher =] |url = http://www.theage.com.au/news/National/APEC-security-has-harmed-Sydney-image/2007/09/10/1189276591324.html |accessdate =2007-09-13 }} </ref>

The Coalition trailed Labor in opinion polls from mid-2006 onward, but Howard still consistently led Labor leader ] on the question of preferred Prime Minister. In December 2006, after ] became Labor leader, the two-party preferred deficit widened even further and Rudd swiftly overtook Howard as preferred Prime Minister.

{{see also|Economy of Australia}}
In April 2006, the government announced it had completely paid off the last of $96 billion of Commonwealth net debt inherited when it came to power in 1996.<ref name='CostelloSpeech200604_DebtRepaid'>{{cite web |url= http://www.treasurer.gov.au/tsr/content/speeches/2006/008.asp |title=Speech to the Committee for Economic Development of Australia : "DEBT-FREE DAY" |last=Costello |first=Peter |date=2006-04-20}}</ref> Economists generally welcomed the news, while cautioning that some level of debt was not necessarily bad, and that some of the debt had been transferred to the private sector.<ref name='PM_debtfreeday'>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2006/s1620425.htm |title=Costello announces 'debt free day'
|last=] ''PM'' |date=2006-04-20}}</ref>{{Verify source|date=October 2007}} Howard often cited the economic management of his government as a point in its favour, but came under heavy criticism toward the end of 2007 in the lead up to the Federal election. It was alleged by opposition leader ] during their single leadership debate that Howard had no plan to deal with inflationary pressures on the economy, and would not be able to handle future interest rate rises.

] residents, ] ]]]

==Evacuation from America during 9/11==
Howard was on an official trip to the United States at the time of the ], and was staying at a hotel not far from the Pentagon. As a precautionary measure, he was evacuated to a bunker inside the Australian embassy and subsequently moved to the ambassador's residence. He originally was going to address a joint session of ] on Wednesday; the joint session address was cancelled but he sat in the gallery of the US house and was acknowledged from there. He was originally to return to Australia by commercial jet; but due to the closure of US airspace he was unable to return by those means. As a result he was flown by the ] to ], from which he returned to Australia by a special ] flight (Qantas was given a special dispensation from the closure of US airspace to take the PM and his party back to Australia.)

==The 2007 election campaign ==
{{main|Australian federal election, 2007}}
] during the ].]]
On 14 October, Howard announced a 24 November election, saying the country "does not need new leadership, it does not need old leadership. It needs the right leadership".<ref>{{ cite news
|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/14/2059084.htm
|title=PM announces November 24 poll]
|work=ABC News Online
|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation
|date=2007-10-14
}}</ref> By the time election writs were issued, the Coalition was running well behind Labor in all polls. Most pundits predicted a large Labor victory. ] election analyst ] noted the Coalition's numbers were similar to what Labor had polled before losing power in 1996.

Opposition leader ] called for a minimum of three debates between himself and John Howard over the campaign period. Howard, who had been rated poorly by studio audiences at past leadership debates, pressed for a single debate "whether was there or not". On 21 October, Howard and Rudd took part in a live nationally ] leaders' ]. Although Howard had pressed for the ] to abandon its use of "the worm" &mdash; an on-screen graphic depicting studio audience sentiment &mdash; it still featured in Nine's debate coverage.<ref name="ABC20011022_Worm">{{ cite news
|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/10/22/2065647.htm
|title=Nine angry over bid to silence 'worm'
|publisher=]
|date=2007-10-22
}}</ref> Commentators widely reported Rudd as the victor in the debate.<ref name='NewsLtd20071021'>{{ cite news
| title = Experts say Rudd won debate
| language = English
| publisher = News Ltd
| author=AAP
| date=October 21, 2007
| url = http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22625219-29277,00.html
| accessdate = 2007-10-21
}}</ref>

] polling booth within Howard's seat of ].]]

In the 24 November election, Howard and his Coalition government were soundly defeated, losing 23 seats — the fourth-worst defeat of an incumbent government since ]. Late that night, Howard conceded that Labor had won government and the likelihood that he had lost Bennelong to former journalist ]. Howard had been 206 votes ahead of McKew on the first count, and finished 2.8 percentage points behind McKew on the estimated two-party vote.<ref name='ABC2007ElectionBennelong'>{{cite news
| title = Bennelong (Key Seat)
| language = English
| publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation
| date = November 25 2007
| url = http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/benn.htm
| accessdate = 2007-11-25
}}</ref> While the ABC and other media outlets projected on election night that Howard had been unseated, McKew declined to claim victory at first, saying that the seat was on "a knife edge."<ref name='NEWS20071125_TooCloseMcKew'>{{cite news
| title = Bennelong too close to call, says McKew
| language = English
| publisher = news.com.au
|date = November 25 2007
| url = http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22817877-29277,00.html
| accessdate = 2007-11-25
}}</ref> On 1 December, McKew claimed victory.<ref></ref> Counting was incomplete at the time, with several postal and absentee ballots still outstanding. However, it was expected that Howard would not win enough of them to retain his seat.<ref name="BusinessSpectator20071124">{{ cite news
|url=http://www.businessspectator.com.au/bs.nsf/Article/Labors-women-shine-tonight-99E85?OpenDocument
|title=Labor's women shine
|author=Barrie Cassidy
|publisher=Business Spectator
|date=2007-11-24
}}</ref><ref name="60Minutes20071125">{{ cite news
|url=http://sixtyminutes.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=328124
|title=Winners and Losers
|authors=Liz Hayes, Tara Brown & Peter Overton
|publisher=]
|work=60 Minutes
|date=2007-11-25
}}</ref><ref name="HeraldSun20080218">{{ cite news
|url=http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,23229905-662,00.html
|title=Revealed: the moment John Howard accepted he was beaten
|author=Gerard McManus
|publisher=News Ltd
|work=Herald Sun
|date=2008-02-18
}}</ref><ref name="CanberraTimes20071125">{{ cite news
|url=http://canberra.yourguide.com.au/news/local/general/howard-likely-to-lose-seat/1092485.html
|title=Howard likely to lose seat
|author=Jonathan Dart
|publisher=Fairfax
|work=The Canberra Times
|date=2007-11-25
}}</ref>

On 12 December, the Electoral Commission formally declared McKew the winner by 44,685 votes (51.4 percent) to Howard's 42,251 (48.6 percent). Howard formally conceded defeat later that day. The final tally showed that Howard lost on the 14th count due to a large flow of ] preferences to McKew. He had been ahead by thin margins for most of the night, never leading by more than 0.2 percentage points.<ref></ref> Four other members of Howard's Cabinet were defeated.

Howard confided in a former colleague that losing Bennelong was a "silver lining in the thunder cloud of defeat" as it spared him the ignominy of opposition.<ref name="AUS20080405_Comments">{{ cite news
|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23484820-5013871,00.html
|title=Dark tea-time of the soul
|author=Kate Legge
|publisher=News Ltd
|work=The Australian
|date=2008-04-05
}}</ref> He remained in office as caretaker Prime Minister until the formal swearing in of Rudd's government on 3 December.<ref>{{ cite news
|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/12/03/2107424.htm
|title=Rudd feeling 'chipper' about swearing in
|publisher=]
|work=ABC News
|date=2007-12-03
}}</ref> Howard is the second Australian Prime Minister, after ], to lose his seat in an election.<ref>{{ cite news
| author = Paul Bibby
| title = Finally, Howard admits McKew has it
| publisher = The Sydney Morning Herald
| date = 2007-12-12
| url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/finally-howard-admits-mckew-has-it/2007/12/12/1197135541910.html
| accessdate = 2007-12-12
}}</ref>

Federal Liberal Party director ] said "it was the failure of ]'s leadership that had masked voter concerns about Howard".<ref name='AUS20071224_Milne'>{{ cite news
|url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22966945-7583,00.html
|title=Roadrunner Rudd on track
|author=Glenn Milne
|work=The Australian
|publisher=News Ltd
|date=2007-12-24
}}</ref> Media analysis of The Australian Election Study, a postal survey of 1873 voters during the 2007 poll, found that although respondents respected Howard and thought he had won the 6-week election campaign, Howard was considered "at odds with public opinion on cut-through issues", his opponent had achieved the highest "likeability" rating in the survey's 20-year history, and a majority had decided their voting intention prior to the election campaign.<ref name='AUS20080524_AustElectionSurvey'>{{ cite news
| url=http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2008/05/23/1211183103011.html
| title=What made battlers turn the tide
| author=Mark Davis
| work=The Sydney Morning Herald
| publisher=Fairfax
| date=2008-05-24
}}</ref>

==Leadership and retirement doubts==
] ] in ] at the ] Economic Leaders Meeting in September 2007.]]

Despite being the second-longest serving Prime Minister in Australian history, John Howard's time in office was marked by almost continuous speculation about when he would be succeeded as Prime Minister by ].<ref>{{cite news
| work=The 7:30 Report
| title =When I'm 64: Howard
| publisher =]
| date =] ]
| url =http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2001/s383820.htm
| accessdate =2007-08-29 }} </ref>

In July 2006, it was alleged that a deal had been struck with Peter Costello in 1994 with ] present, that if the Liberal party were to win the next election, Howard would serve one and a half terms of office and then allow Costello to take over. Howard denied that this constituted a deal, yet Costello and McLachlan insisted it did;<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19736460-2,00.html | title=Costello backers savage Howard | publisher=] | author=Steve Lewis | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-10}}; {{cite news| url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19734797-2,00.html | title=No, Prime Minister, you cannot deny it | publisher=] | author=Glenn Milne | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-10}}; {{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1682824.htm | title=Howard promised me a handover: Costello / Howard rejects Costello's deal claim | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-10}}</ref> and there were calls for Costello to either challenge or quit.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1683090.htm | title=Labor sees end to Howard-Costello duet | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-10}}; {{cite news| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1683201.htm | title=Call for Costello to quit or challenge | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-11}}</ref>

After losing government and his seat, John Howard anointed Costello as his successor. Costello however refused to accept the role of leader of the opposition<ref>, '']'', ] ].</ref>, and ] was elected as leader of the parliamentary Liberal Party.

== Relationship with George Bush ==
A feature of John Howard's period in office was his close relationship with ] president ]<ref name="NYT_Ally">{{cite news |first=Tim |last=Jonston |title=Ally of Bush Is Defeated in Australia |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/world/asia/25australia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin |publisher=] ||date=2007-11-25 |accessdate=2008-05-06 }}</ref> In May, 2003, Howard made an overnight stay at Bush's ] in ]<ref name="SMH+lauds">{{cite news |title=Bush lauds Howard as 'man of steel' |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/04/1051987592763.html |publisher='']'' ||date=2003-05-04 |accessdate=2008-05-06 }}</ref>. The two shared a common ideology on many issues, most visibly in their approach to the "]".<ref name="NYT_Ally"/>

], secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, in July 2005.]]

In February 2007, referring to the US presidential contest, Howard claimed that ] nomination candidate ]'s stance on the war would encourage terrorism in ]<ref name="washpost1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/12/AR2007021201342.html|title=Australian Premier Defends Remark On Obama, Terror|accessdate=2008-05-24|publisher=Washington Post}}</ref><ref name="CNN_Obama">{{cite news |title=Obama hits back after Australian PM slams his Iraq stance |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/11/obama.comment/index.html |publisher=] |date=2007-02-12 |accessdate=2008-05-07 }}</ref>.

== Relationship with Indigenous Australia ==
Following the ] of the High Court in 1996, John Howard's government moved swiftly to legislate limitations on its possible implications with the so-called ].

As recommended in the 1997 ] report, John Howard's government also considered the issue of a national apology to ], in recognition of the treatment by previous governments following the European settlement of the country. However, in the face of a growing movement in favour of a national apology, Howard was resolute in his refusal to do this, although all state and territory governments issued their own. Instead, on ] ] John Howard personally expressed "deep sorrow" while maintaining that "Australians of this generation should not be required to accept guilt and blame for past actions and policies."<ref name="speech-reconciliation_convention">{{cite web | url=http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/car/arc/speeches/opening/howard.htm | title=Opening Speech of Australian Reconciliation Convention | publisher=Australasian Legal Information Institute | date=] May ] | accessdate=2006-08-23}}</ref> In February 2008, after Howard failed to win a fifth term, incoming Prime Minister ] made an apology on behalf of the federal parliament, which received bipartisan support. Howard was the only living former Prime Minister who declined to attend.<ref></ref>

In 2005, the Howard Government abolished the ], the only federal body charged with formally representing indigenous Australians. This was done in response to concerns that its organisational structure was conducive to corrupt behaviour by its officers<ref></ref>.

===== Northern Territory intervention =====
In August 2007, the Howard government announced the ]. This package of revisions to ] provisions, law enforcement and other measures was advanced as a plan for addressing child abuse in Aboriginal ] communities that had been highlighted by the "'']''" report in mid-June.

Key components of the intervention included restrictions placed on access to alcohol and pornography; mandatory health checks for children; and seizure by the Federal Government of local community land leases for a five year period and removal of the permit system that had allowed aboriginal communities to restrict access to land.

The plan drew criticism from the report's authors for not incorporating any of the report's numerous recommendations<ref name='NYT20070842_IndigenousIntervention'>{{ cite news
|last = Johnston
|first = Tim
|title = Far-Reaching Policy for Aborigines Draws Their Fury
|publisher= '']''
|accessdate = 2007-08-28
|date = ]
|url = http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/24/world/asia/24outback.html?ex=1345608000&en=f812218dfd708cf3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
}}</ref>, however some aboriginal activists such as ] provided qualified support for the intervention, as it provided the first sign of the Howard government taking any significant interest in aboriginal affairs. Commentators noted the approaching November federal election, suggesting that the intervention was an attempt at "wedge politics" and an appeal to middle class non-Aboriginal voters concerned with child abuse and racial issues.

==After politics==
In January 2008, John Howard signed with a prominent speaking agency called the ], joining ], ], ], and others. He will be available for two speeches, ''Leadership in the New Century'' and ''The Global Economic Future''.<ref></ref> In February 2008, John Howard gave a speech to the Nigerian parliament on how to achieve economic prosperity. <ref></ref>

== Honours ==
] located in the ] in the ]]]
* Appointed as a Companion of the ] in the 2008 Queen's Birthday Honours list "for distinguished service to the Parliament of Australia, particularly as Prime Minister and through contributions to economic and social policy reform, fostering and promoting Australia's interests internationally, and the development of significant philanthropic links between the business sector, arts and charitable organisations." <ref></ref>
* ] in January 2001
* The ] together with ] as Prime Minister of ] on ] ] for their respective roles in restoring law and order in the Solomon Islands.<ref name="solomon_award">{{cite web | url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=23419 | title=PM awarded the Star of the Solomon Islands | publisher=Beehive | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-08}}</ref>
* ''] Award'', the highest award of the ], ] ] <ref name=aei> ] press release ] ] </ref>
* ''] in Government, ] ] <ref></ref>
* Howard also received the prestigious ] from the ] of the U.S. Smithsonian Institution on August 22, 2005 in Sydney.

==See also==
*]
*]
*]
*]

==Notes==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
;'''Publications'''

*{{cite book | last = Barnett | first = David | authorlink = David Barnett (Australian journalist) | coauthors = ] | year = 1997 | title = John Howard, Prime Minister | publisher = Viking | id = ISBN 0-670-87389-6}}

*{{cite book | last = Cater | first = Nick | authorlink = Nick Cater | year = 2006 | title = The Howard Factor | publisher = Melbourne University Publishing | id = ISBN 0-522-85284-X}}

*Errington, Wayne; Van Onselen, Peter (2007). ''John Winston Howard: The Biography''. Melbourne: Melbourne University Press. ISBN 9780522853346

*{{cite book | last = Kevin | first = Tony | authorlink = Tony Kevin | year = 2004 | title = A Certain Maritime Incident the sinking of SIEV X | publisher = Scribe Publications | id = ISBN 1-920769-21-8}}

*{{cite book | last = Kingston | first = Margo | authorlink = Margo Kingston | year = 2004 | month=June | title = Not Happy, John! defending Australia's democracy | publisher = Penguin | id = ISBN 0-14-300258-9}}

*{{cite book | last = Maddox | first = Marion | authorlink = Marion Maddox | year = 2005 | month=February | title = God Under Howard: The rise of the religious right in Australian politics | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards | id = ISBN 1-74114-568-6}}

*{{cite book | last = Marr | first = David | authorlink = David Marr (journalist) | coauthors = ] | year = 2005 | month=August | title = Dark Victory | publisher = Allen & Unwin | location = St Leonards | id = ISBN 1-74114-447-7}}

*{{cite book | last = Wilkie | first = Andrew | authorlink = Andrew Wilkie | year = 2004 | month=October | title = Axis of deceit (Black Inc. Agenda) | publisher = Schwarz Publishing | location = Melbourne | id = ISBN 0-9750769-2-2}}

;'''Websites'''
* {{cite web | url=http://parlinfoweb.aph.gov.au/piweb/view_document.aspx?ID=2199337&TABLE=HANSARDR | title=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 | publisher=Hansard of the Parliament of Australia | date=] | accessdate=2006-07-08}}

== External links ==
{{sisterlinks|John Howard}}
* National Archives of Australia
{{OpenAustralia}}
* , the first Australian Prime Minister to do so since ] in 1944.
*
*

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{{Leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia}}

{{Persondata
|NAME=Howard, John Winston
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
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}}
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Revision as of 06:51, 4 August 2008

He is a WAR CRIMINAL