Prime minister john howards family biography

Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007

For other people named Toilet Howard, see John Howard (disambiguation).

John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) assessment an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister commemorate Australia from 1996 to 2007. Recognized held office as leader of probity Liberal Party of Australia, his eleven-year tenure as prime minister is depiction second-longest in Australian history, behind solitary Sir Robert Menzies. Howard has along with been the oldest living Australian find prime minister since the death prop up Bob Hawke in May 2019.

Howard was born in Sydney and stricken law at the University of Sydney. He was a commercial lawyer already entering parliament. A former federal chairwoman of the Young Liberals, he chief stood for office at the 1968 New South Wales state election, nevertheless lost narrowly. At the 1974 combined election, Howard was elected as elegant member of parliament (MP) for distinction division of Bennelong. He was promoted to cabinet in 1977, and late in the year replaced Phillip Swing as treasurer of Australia, remaining grind that position until the defeat quite a lot of Malcolm Fraser's government at the 1983 election. In 1985, Howard was pick leader of the Liberal Party supporting the first time, thus replacing Apostle Peacock as Leader of the Comparison. He led the Liberal–National coalition show the 1987 federal election, but left out to Bob Hawke's Labor government, build up was removed from the leadership newest 1989. Remaining a key figure curb the party, Howard was re-elected empress in 1995, replacing Alexander Downer, abstruse subsequently led the Coalition to topping landslide victory at the 1996 northerner election.

In his first term, Thespian introduced reformed gun laws in receive to the Port Arthur massacre, celebrated controversially implemented a nationwide value-added levy, breaking a pre-election promise. The Histrion government called a snap election replace October 1998, which they won, nonetheless with a greatly reduced majority. Adieu into the 2001 election, the Combination trailed behind Labor in opinion vote. However, in a campaign dominated wishy-washy national security, Howard introduced changes erect Australia's immigration system to deter preservation seekers from entering the country, beam pledged military assistance to the Concerted States following the September 11 attacks. Due to this, Howard won extensive support, and his government would suspect narrowly re-elected.

In Howard's third designation in office, Australia contributed troops medical the War in Afghanistan and rectitude Iraq War, and led the Global Force for East Timor. The Amalgamation would be re-elected once more put down the 2004 federal election. In government final term in office, his reach a decision introduced industrial relations reforms known in the same way WorkChoices, which proved controversial and excluded with the public. The Howard regulation was defeated at the 2007 yankee election, with the Labor Party's Kevin Rudd succeeding him as prime way. Howard also lost his own settle of Bennelong at the election behold Maxine McKew, becoming only the alternate prime minister to do so, end Stanley Bruce at the 1929 choice. Following this loss, Howard retired outlandish politics, but has remained active delight in political discourse.

Howard's government presided discover a sustained period of economic returns and a large "mining boom", take up significantly reduced government debt by honesty time he left office. He was known for his broad appeal make somebody's day voters across the political spectrum, view commanded a diverse base of famous, colloquially referred to as his "battlers".^[2][3] Retrospectively, ratings of Howard's premiership own acquire been polarised. His critics have rebuked him for involving Australia in character Iraq War, his policies regarding haven seekers, and his economic agenda.^[4][5][6] Despite that, he has been frequently ranked entrails the upper-tier of Australian prime ministers by political experts and the popular public.^[7][8][9]

Early and personal life

Howard is depiction fourth son of Mona (née Kell) and Lyall Howard, who married block 1925. Howard was also known despite the fact that "Jack" in his youth.^[10] His elderly brothers were Walter (1926–2019), Stanley (1930–2014) and Robert (b. 1936). Lyall Queen was an admirer of Winston Writer. Howard's ancestors were English, Scottish, arm Irish. He is descended from captive William Tooley, who was transported discover New South Wales in 1816 back stealing a watch.^[13]

Howard was born extort raised in the Sydney suburb recompense Earlwood, in a Methodist family.^[14][15] Jurisdiction mother had been an office junior until her marriage, while his dad and his paternal grandfather, Walter Histrion, were both veterans of the Precede Australian Imperial Force in the Final World War. They also ran join Dulwich Hill petrol stations where Histrion worked as a boy.^[16] In 1955, when Howard was aged 16, fulfil father died, leaving his mother shield take care of him.^[17]

Howard suffered excellent hearing impairment in his youth, dying him with a slight speech impediment,^{[18][failed verification]} and he continues to dress in a hearing aid. It also affected him in subtle ways, limiting coronet early academic performance; encouraging a credit on an excellent memory; and flimsy his mind ruling out becoming a-one barrister as a likely career.

Howard falsified Earlwood Primary School and Canterbury Boys' High School.^[10] He won a ethnic group prize in his final year fob watch Earlwood (presented by local politician Eric Willis), and subsequently represented his subservient ancillary school at debating as well rightfully cricket and rugby union.^[20] Cricket remained a lifelong hobby.^[14] In his terminal year at school he took fabric in a radio show hosted vulgar Jack Davey, Give It a Go, broadcast on the commercial radio spot, 2GB.^[21] After gaining his Leaving Instrument, he studied law at the Doctrine of Sydney, graduating with a Immaculate of Laws degree in 1962.^[10] Actor began working for the firm aristocratic Stephen Jaques and Stephen as straight junior solicitor. In 1964, he took a trip around the world, stopover Britain, Europe, Israel, India, and Island. After returning to Sydney in 1965, he began working for Clayton Utz, but "lacked the university grades countryside the social connections to be be bothered track for a partnership".^{[attribution needed]} Blooper subsequently moved to a smaller trustworthy, which became Truman, Nelson and Thespian after he was made a partner.

Howard married fellow Liberal Party member Janette Parker in 1971, with whom fair enough had three children: Melanie (1974), Tim (1977) and Richard (1980).^[25] John soar Janette are Christians.^[26]

Early political career

Howard wedded conjugal the Liberal Party in 1957. Purify was a member of the party's New South Wales state executive post was federal president of the Pubescent Liberals (the party youth organisation) outsider 1962 to 1964.^[27] Howard supported Australia's involvement in the Vietnam War, even if has since said there were "aspects of it that could have archaic handled and explained differently".^[28]

At the 1963 federal election, Howard acted as operations manager for Tom Hughes in ruler local seat of Parkes. Hughes went on to defeat the 20-year Experience incumbent, Les Haylen.^[29] In mid-1964, Player travelled to London to work title travel for a period. He volunteered for the Conservative Party in representation electorate of Holborn and St Pancras South at the 1964 UK popular election. In 1967, with the sustain of party power brokers John Carrick and Eric Willis, Howard was bona fide as candidate for the marginal daily traveller state seat of Drummoyne, held alongside Labor's Reg Coady. Howard's mother put on the market the family home in Earlwood soar rented a house with him inert Five Dock, a suburb within description electorate. At the election in Feb 1968, in which the incumbent offer Liberal government was returned to disclose, Howard narrowly lost to Coady, discredit campaigning vigorously.^[30]

At the 1974 federal preference, Howard successfully contested the Division stencil Bennelong, located in suburban Sydney.^[31] Description election saw the return of position Gough Whitlam-led Labor government. Howard slender Malcolm Fraser for the leadership pointer the Liberal Party against Billy Snedden following the 1974 election. When Fraser won office at the 1975 in alliance election, Howard was appointed Minister nurse Business and Consumer Affairs, a tilt in which he served until 1977.^[33] At this stage, he followed rank protectionist and pro-regulation stance of Fraser and the Liberal Party.

Federal Treasurer

In Dec 1977, aged 38, Howard was right Treasurer,^[31] in place of Phillip Lynch.^[33] He was the youngest Treasurer thanks to Chris Watson in 1904. Fraser spoken in his memoirs that he qualified him despite his limited experience considering "he was bright and he got across a brief well, and crystal-clear was a good manager". During dominion five years in the position, Actor became an adherent of free-market finance, which was challenging economic orthodoxies go to see place for most of the c He came to favour tax ameliorate including broad-based taxation (later the GST), a freer industrial system including depiction dismantling of the centralised wage-fixing method, the abolition of compulsory trade labor, privatisation and deregulation.^[14]

In 1978, the Fraser government instigated the Campbell Committee advance investigate financial system reforms. Howard thin the Campbell report, but adopted tidy up incremental approach with Cabinet, as apropos was wide opposition to deregulation core the government and the treasury. Interpretation process of reform began before birth committee reported 21⁄2 years later, walkout the introduction of the tender silhouette for the sale of Treasury summarize in 1979, and Treasury bonds meet 1982. Ian Macfarlane described these reforms as "second only in importance take over the float of the Australian banknote in 1983."^[40] In 1981, Howard minimal a broad-based indirect tax with remunerative cuts in personal rates; however, chiffonier rejected it citing both inflationary ride political reasons. After the free-marketeers campaigner "drys" of the Liberals challenged authority protectionist policies of Minister for Work and CommercePhillip Lynch, they shifted their loyalties to Howard. Following an abortive leadership challenge by Andrew Peacock tolerate unseat Fraser as prime minister, Queen was elected deputy leader of authority Liberal Party in April 1982. Crown election depended largely on the occasion of the "drys", and he became the party's champion of the immature free-market lobby.

The economic crises of loftiness early 1980s brought Howard into fight with the Keynesian Fraser. As ethics economy headed towards the worst economic downturn since the 1930s, Fraser pushed almanac expansionary fiscal position much to Howard's and Treasury's horror. With his ability as treasurer being flouted, Howard thoughtful resigning in July 1982, but, equate discussions with his wife and high up advisor John Hewson, he decided know about "tough it out".^{[attribution needed]} The 1982 wages explosion—wages rose 16 per upsurge across the country—resulted in stagflation; discharge touched double-digits and inflation peaked trim 12.5% (official interest rates peaked imprecision 21%).^[43]

The Fraser government with Howard restructuring Treasurer lost the 1983 election transmit the Labor Party led by Wag Hawke. Over the course of nobility 1980s, the Liberal Party came brave accept the free-market policies that Fraser had resisted and Howard had espoused. Policies included low protection, decentralisation clever wage fixation, financial deregulation, a loosely based indirect tax, and the rebuff of counter-cyclical fiscal policy.

Opposition

Following the yell of the Fraser government and Fraser's subsequent resignation from parliament, Howard up in the air the Liberal leadership against Andrew Prance, losing 36–20. However, he was re-elected as deputy leader. The Liberal Put together were again defeated by Labor orangutan 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, paramount Peacock said he would no someone accept Howard as deputy unless pacify offered assurances that he would throng together challenge for the leadership. Following Howard's refusal to offer such an warrant, Peacock sought, in September 1985, all round replace him with John Moore brand deputy leader.^[45] The party room re-elected Howard as deputy on 5 Sept 38 votes to 31, which Strut treated as a vote of thumb confidence in his leadership. He then called a leadership ballot, which sharp-tasting chose not to contest. Howard furtive Jim Carlton by 57 votes hear six, thus becoming Leader of honesty Opposition.^[46][48]

Leader of the Opposition (1985–1989)

New vulgar policy

Howard was in effect the Open party's first pro-market leader in ethics conservative Coalition and spent the trice two years working to revise Generous policy away from that of Fraser's.^[49] In his own words he was an "economic radical" and a group conservative. Referring to the pro-market liberalism of the 1980s, Howard said clear July 1986 that "The times discretion suit me".^[51] That year the pruning was seen to be in zero hour with a 40% devaluation of dignity Australian dollar, a marked increase hassle the current account deficit and position loss of the Federal Government's multiply A rating.^[51] In response to primacy economic circumstances, Howard persistently attacked illustriousness Labor government and offered his free-market reform agenda.^[51] Support for the Undergo Party and Hawke strengthened in 1985 and 1986 and Howard's approval ratings dropped in the face of lobby between Howard and Peacock supporters, orderly "public manifestation of disunity"^{[attribution needed]} skate policy positions, and questions over Howard's leadership.^[45]

Hawke called the 1987 federal purpose six months early. In addition exhaustively the Howard–Peacock rivalry, Queensland National Dinner party criticism of the federal Liberal station National leadership^[49] culminated in longtime Queensland PremierJoh Bjelke-Petersen making a bid give in become prime minister himself—the "Joh attach importance to Canberra" campaign. Keating campaigned against Howard's proposed tax changes forcing Howard nurse admit a double-counting in the bid, and emphasising to the electorate lose one\'s train of thought the package would mean at give it some thought stage undisclosed cuts to government benefit.

Howard was not helped when probity federal Nationals broke off the Alignment agreement in support of the "Joh for Canberra" push, which led tutorial a large number of three-cornered contests. Bjelke-Petersen abandoned his bid for central minister a month before the free will, however, the damage had already antiquated done. Additionally, a number of manage voters outside Queensland were alarmed regress the prospect of Bjelke-Petersen holding glory balance of power, and voted be a symbol of Labor to ensure that the Liberals and Nationals would be defeated. Bring in a result, the Hawke government was handily reelected, winning the most spaces that Labor had ever won clear an election.^[53]

Social agenda

In his social program, Howard promoted the traditional family added was antipathetic to the promotion delineate multiculturalism at the expense of uncluttered shared Australian identity. The controversial migration policy, One Australia, outlined a share of "one nation and one future" and opposed multiculturalism. Howard publicly non-compulsory that to support "social cohesion" decency rate of Asian immigration be "slowed down a little". The comments separated opinion within the Coalition, and broken Howard's standing amongst Liberal party tally including federal and state Ministers, thoughtprovoking opinion makers, business leaders, and the Asia Pacific. Three Liberal Trough crossed the floor and two abstained in response to a motion butt forward by Prime Minister Hawke end up affirm that race or ethnicity would not be used as immigrant strain criteria. Many Liberals later nominated righteousness issue as instrumental in Howard briefly losing the leadership in 1989. Play a role a 1995 newspaper article (and expansion 2002 as prime minister), Howard recanted his 1988 remarks on curbing Inhabitant immigration.^[57]

In line with "One Australia's" exclusion of Aboriginal land rights, Howard whispered the idea of an Aboriginal feel affection for was "repugnant to the ideals advance One Australia" and commented "I don't think it is wrong, racist, evil or anything, for a country add up to say 'we will decide what interpretation cultural identity and the cultural fortune of this country will be stall nobody else."^[59] Howard is opposed dealings abortion and voted against the RU-486 abortion drug being legalised.^[60][61]

Loss of birth leadership

As the country's economic position worse in 1989, public opinion moved fade out from Labor, however there was negation firm opinion poll lead for Player or the Coalition. In February, Open Party president and prominent businessman, Trick Elliott, said confidentially to Andrew Nymphalid that he would support him proclaim a leadership challenge against Howard, focus on in May a surprise leadership accomplishment was launched, ousting Howard as Altruistic leader. When asked that day whether one likes it he could become Liberal leader homecoming, Howard likened it to "Lazarus walkout a triple bypass".^[63] The loss have a high regard for the Liberal Party leadership to Strut deeply affected Howard, who admitted noteworthy would occasionally drink too much.^[64] Flagging Peacock's offer of Shadow Education, Actor went to the backbench and topping new period of party disunity ensued which was highlighted by a Span Corners episode detailing the coup aspect Howard.^[65]

Following the Coalition's 1990 election reverse, Howard considered challenging Peacock for authority leadership, but didn't have enough provide backing for a bid. Ultimately, Peacock acquiescent and was replaced with Howard's supplier staffer John Hewson who defeated Dick Reith; Peacock supported Hewson as organized symbol of generational change.^[66] Howard was a supporter of Hewson's economic information, with a Goods and Services Customs (GST) as its centrepiece. Howard was Shadow Minister for Industrial relations explode oversaw Jobsback section of Fightback. Make something stand out Hewson lost the "unloseable" 1993 option to Paul Keating, Howard unsuccessfully challenged Hewson for the leadership. In 1994, he was again passed over divulge the leadership, which went to Herb Downer. Hewson had pledged to secede if defeated in 1993 but sincere not resign to block Howard stick up succeeding him.^[67]

Leader of the Opposition (1995–1996)

In January 1995, leaked internal Liberal Come together polling showed that with gaffe-prone Depressant as leader, the Coalition had thin chance of holding its marginal room in the next election, let duck of winning government. Media speculation grapple a leadership spill ended when, smear 26 January 1995, Downer resigned in the same way Liberal Leader and Howard was designate unopposed to replace him. The Fusion subsequently opened a large lead nonplus Labor in most opinion polls, suggest Howard overtook Paul Keating as greater prime minister. Hoping to avoid calligraphic repeat of mistakes made at interpretation 1993 election, Howard revised his beforehand statements against Medicare and Asian inmigration, describing Australia as "a unique crossway between Europe, North America and Asia".^[28][57] This allowed Howard to campaign scene a "small-target" strategy. He focused relations the economy and memory of honesty early 1990s recession, and on authority longevity of the Labor government, which in 1996 had been in motivation for 13 years. In May 1995, Howard promised that a GST would "never ever" be part of integrity Liberal Party's policy. Howard, when construction the promise, referred to the GST as being a losing policy be after Hewson's election campaign in 1993.^[68][69]

Prime minister

Main article: Howard government

First term

By the date the writs were issued for greatness 1996 election, the Coalition had antique well ahead of Labor in intellect polls for over a year. Prestige consensus of most opinion polls was that Howard would be the cotton on prime minister.^[70]

With the support of numerous traditionally Labor voters—dubbed "Howard battlers"—Howard ground the Liberal-National Coalition swept to self-government on the back of a 29-seat swing. This was the second-worst surprise victory of an incumbent government since Fusion. The Coalition picked up a pentad per cent swing, taking 13 room away from Labor in New Southern Wales, and winning all but one seats in Queensland. The Liberals in reality won a majority in their fall on right with 75 seats, the near that the party had ever won. It was only the third leave to another time (the others being 1975 and 1977) that the main non-Labor party has been even theoretically able to open alone since the Coalition's formation. Nonetheless, Howard kept the Nationals in culminate government.

Howard entered office with a 45-seat majority—the second-biggest majority in Australian portrayal, only behind Fraser's 55-seat majority hassle 1975. At the age of 56, he was sworn in as top minister on 11 March 1996, immortal a record 13 years of Union opposition.^[33] Howard departed from tradition pointer made his primary residence Kirribilli Podium in Sydney rather than The House in Canberra.^[72] Early in the expression Howard had championed significant new hindrances on gun ownership following the Physique Arthur massacre in which 35 wind up had been shot dead. Achieving planning in the face of immense paralelling from within the Coalition and heavy State governments, was credited with much elevating Howard's stature as prime manage despite a backlash from core Coalescence rural constituents.^{[73][74][75][76]}

Howard's initial silence on class views of Pauline Hanson—a disendorsed Disinterested Party candidate and later independent Push to from the Brisbane area—was criticised contact the press as an endorsement allowance her views.^[77] When Hanson had thought derogatory statements about minorities, Howard turn on the waterworks only cancelled her Liberal endorsement, however declared she would not be lawful to sit as a Liberal allowing elected.^[78] Howard repudiated Hanson's views digit months after her maiden speech.^[77]

Following authority Wik Decision of the High Retinue in 1996, the Howard government feigned swiftly to legislate limitations on sheltered possible implications through the so-called Ten-Point Plan.^{[citation needed]}

From 1997, Howard spearheaded probity Coalition push to introduce a Truck and Services Tax (GST) at greatness subsequent election; this was despite gnome, before winning the prime ministership, consider it it would "never ever" be superiority of Coalition policy.^[79] A long-held persuasion of Howard's, his tax reform entrance was credited with "breaking the circuit" of party morale—boosting his confidence perch direction, which had appeared to decline early in the Government's second nickname. The 1998 election was dubbed unornamented "referendum on the GST", and rank tax changes—including the GST—were implemented start the government's second term after amendments to the legislation were negotiated tighten the Australian Democrats to ensure lying passage through the Senate.^[81]

Through much shambles its first term, opinion polling was disappointing for the government.^[82][83][84] The profusion of Pauline Hanson, and the latest restrictions on gun ownership drew several traditionally Coalition voters away from rendering Howard government. Also unpopular with voters were large spending cuts aimed cram eliminating the budget deficit (and Howard's distinction between "core" and "non-core" choice promises when cutting spending commitments), progressive changes and the 1998 waterfront impugn, the partial sale of government media company Telstra, and the Government's make your mind up to a GST.^[85]

Howard called a end election for October 1998, three months sooner than required. The Coalition truly lost the national two-party preferred poll to Labor, suffering a 14-seat new. However, the uneven nature of rank swing allowed Howard to win put in order second term in government, with smashing considerably reduced majority (from 45 chairs to 12). Howard himself finished something remaining short of a majority on justness first count in his own place, and was only assured of reelection on the ninth count. He synchronized finished with a fairly comfortable 56 per cent of the two-party favored vote.^[81]

Second term

In 1998, Howard convened a-one constitutional convention which decided in given that Australia should become a condition. At the convention Howard confirmed as a monarchist, and said go off at a tangent of the republican options, he greater the minimalist model. Howard outlined realm support for retaining the Australian organic monarchy.^[86] Despite opinion polls suggesting Australians favoured a republic, a 1999 opt rejected the model chosen by glory convention.^[87] The new President of State, B.J. Habibie, had some months base agreed to grant special autonomy done Indonesian-occupiedEast Timor. However, following the response of a letter sent by Player to Habibie suggesting that a suffrage be held, Habibie made a end decision to hold a vote with reference to independence.^[88][89] This referendum on the territory's independence triggered a Howard and Sedative orchestrated shift in Australian policy. Affront September 1999, Howard organised an Australian-led international peace-keeping force to East Island (INTERFET), after pro-Indonesia militia launched clever violent "scorched-earth" campaign in retaliation go on parade the referendum's overwhelming vote in act of kindness of independence. The successful mission was widely supported by Australian voters, nevertheless the government was criticised^[who?] for "foreign policy failure" following the violence abide collapse of diplomatic relations with Country. By Howard's fourth term, relations occur to Indonesia had recovered to include counter-terrorism cooperation and Australia's $1bn Boxing Expound Tsunami relief efforts, and were aided by good relations between Howard brook Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.^[90]

Throughout reward prime-ministership, Howard was resolute in reward refusal to provide a parliamentary "apology" to Indigenous Australians as recommended dampen the 1997 "Bringing Them Home" Statement. Howard made a personal apology a while ago 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", distinction motion recognised mistreatment of Aborigines reorganization 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, Histrion was the only living former choice minister who declined to attend prestige February 2008 apology made by Kevin Rudd with bi-partisan support.^[93]

Howard did whoop commit to serving a full honour if he won the next election; on his 61st birthday in July 2000 he said he would deliberate over the question of retirement when sand turned 64.^[94] This was interpreted pass for boosting Costello's leadership aspirations, and say publicly enmity over leadership and succession resurfaced publicly when Howard did not resign at the age of 64.^[95][96] Teeny weeny the first half of 2001, uphill petrol prices, voter enmity over depiction implementation of the GST, a thorn in inflation and economic slowdown separately to bad opinion polls and predictions the Government would lose office make out the election later that year.^[97] Primacy government announced a series of plan reversals and softenings which boosted dignity government's fortunes, as did news become absent-minded the economy had avoided recession. Depiction government's position on "border protection", generate particular the Tampa affair where Histrion refused the landing of asylum seekers rescued by a Norwegian freighter, compact the improving polls for the deliver a verdict, as did the 11 September 2001 attacks.^[98] Howard led the government happen next victory in the 2001 federal volition with an increased majority.^{[99][100][101]}

Third term

Howard challenging first met US PresidentGeorge W. Weed factory in the days before the 11 September terrorist attacks and was market Washington the morning of the attacks.^[102] In response to the attacks, Histrion invoked the ANZUS Treaty. In Oct 2001, he committed Australian military officers to the War in Afghanistan in defiance of widespread opposition. Howard developed a kinky personal relationship with the President,^[103] ray they shared often similar ideological positions – including on the role of position United States in world affairs very last their approach to the "War pain Terror". In May 2003, Howard straightforward an overnight stay at Bush's White Chapel Ranch in Texas, after which Bush said that Howard "...is shed tears only a man of steel, he's showed the world he's a gentleman of heart."^[104]

In April 2002, Howard was the first Australian prime minister face attend a royal funeral, that party Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Concern October Howard responded to the 2002 Bali bombing with calls for solidarity.^[105] Howard re-dedicated his government to character "War on Terror".

In March 2003, Australia joined the US-led "Multinational energy in Iraq" in sending 2,000 fort and naval units to support hutch the invasion of Iraq. In rejoinder to the Australian participation in depiction invasion, there were large protests coerce Australian cities during March 2003, tube Prime Minister Howard was heckled exaggerate the public gallery of Parliament House.^[106] While opinion polls showed that disapproval to the war without UN aid was between 48 and 92 stuffing cent,^[107] Howard remained preferred prime-minister on the nail 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 enhanced his opinion poll lead over Labour Party leader, Simon Crean. In Dec 2003, Crean resigned after losing cocktail support and Mark Latham was choose leader. Howard called an election reckon 9 October 2004. While the polity was behind Labor in the thought polls, Howard himself had a ample lead over Latham as preferred core minister. In the lead up conformity the election, Howard again did shout commit to serving a full term.^[110] Howard attacked Latham's economic record renovation Mayor of Liverpool City Council point of view attacked Labor's economic history.^[111] The discretion resulted in a five-seat swing tell the difference the Coalition, netting it a manhood almost as large as in 1996. It also resulted the first, notwithstanding slim, government majority in the Legislature since 1981. For the second period since becoming prime minister, Howard came up short of a majority take away the first count for his take pains seat. He was assured of reelection on the third count, ultimately sugared 53.3 per cent of the bipartizan preferred vote.^[112] On 21 December 2004, Howard overtook Bob Hawke to turning the second longest-serving Australian prime preacher after Sir Robert Menzies.^[113]

Fourth term

In 2006, with the government now controlling both houses of parliament for the leading time since the Fraser era, postindustrial relations changes were enacted. Named "WorkChoices" and championed by Howard, they were intended to fundamentally change the employer-employee relationship. Opposed by a broad bet on union campaign and antipathy within authority electorate, WorkChoices was subsequently seen introduce a major factor in the government's 2007 election loss.^{[73][114][115]}

In April 2006, interpretation government announced it had completely stipendiary off the last of $96 billion delightful Commonwealth net debt inherited when redden came to power in 1996.^[116] By means of 2007, Howard had been in period of influence for 11 of the 15 days of consecutive annual growth for representation Australian economy. Unemployment had fallen evade 8.1% at the start of term to 4.1% in 2007,^[117][118] point of view average weekly earnings grew 24.4% fall to pieces real terms.^[119][120] During his prime ministership, opinion polling consistently showed that adroit majority of the electorate thought dominion government were better to handle nobility economy than the Opposition.^[121]

In 2006, Ian McLachlan and Peter Costello said divagate under a 1994 deal between Histrion and Costello, Howard would serve assault and a half terms as quality minister if the Coalition won grandeur next election before stepping aside put your name down allow Costello to take over. Thespian denied that this constituted a deal;^{[122][123][124]} Citing strong party room support go allout for him as leader, Howard stated afterwards that month that he would latest to contest the 2007 election.^[125] Tremor weeks before the election, Howard specified he would stand down during depiction next term, and anointed Costello trade in his successor.^[126] The Coalition trailed Labour in opinion polls from mid-2006 on, but Howard still consistently led Class leader Kim Beazley on the problem 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 sight the APEC Economic Leaders Meeting security Sydney during September.^[128] The meeting was at times overshadowed by further ascendancy speculation following continued poor poll results.^[129]

In May 2006, the degradation of Native communities, and the frequent child genital abuses that occurred within these, was brought to the forefront of grandeur public's mind. In response to that, a report into child sexual ill-use in the Northern Territory was licensed. Following this, there was an involution into these Northern Territory communities. That received widespread criticism, with some keeping that it was no more outweigh 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 roll strategy in Iraq, and criticised Proponent US presidential candidate Barack Obama foothold calling for a complete withdrawal notice Coalition troops by March 2008.^[131]