John Howard: Difference between revisions

| image = File:Howard John BANNER b.jpg <!--Do no change this photo without obtaining consensus in talk-->

| governor-general = [[Sir William Deane]]<br />[[Peter Hollingworth]]<br />[[Michael Jeffery (Australian Army officer)|Michael Jeffery]]

| office1 = [[TreasurerLeader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]]

| primeminister1deputy1 = [[MalcolmPeter FraserCostello]]

| term_start1 = 1930 NovemberJanuary 19771995

| term_end1 = 11 March 19831996

| predecessor1 = [[PhillipAlexander LynchDowner]]

| successor1 = Paul[[Kim KeatingBeazley]]

| office2deputy2 = [[MinisterNeil forBrown Trade(Australian and Investment (Australiapolitician)|MinisterNeil forBrown]]<br Special Trade/>[[Andrew NegotiationsPeacock]]

| primeminister2term_start2 = Malcolm5 September Fraser1985

| term_start2term_end2 = 179 JulyMay 19771989

| term_end2 predecessor2 = 20 DecemberAndrew 1977Peacock

| primeminister3term_end3 = Malcolm29 November Fraser2007

| term_start3deputy3 = 22 December 1975 = Peter Costello

| term_end3 predecessor3 = 17 JulyAlexander 1977Downer

| predecessor3successor3 = [[Sir BobBrendan CottonNelson]]

| successor3 term_start4 = [[Wal5 Fife]]September 1985

| term_start4deputy4 = 30Neil Brown<br January/>Andrew 1995Peacock

| term_end4 predecessor4 = 29 NovemberAndrew 2007Peacock

| deputy4 successor4 = PeterAndrew CostelloPeacock

| successor4leader5 = [[BrendanMalcolm Fraser<br />Andrew Nelson]]Peacock

| term_start5 = 58 SeptemberApril 19851982

| term_end5 = 95 MaySeptember 19891985

| deputy5 predecessor5 = Neil Brown<br />AndrewPhillip PeacockLynch

| leader6 term_start6 = Malcolm Fraser<br7 />AndrewApril Peacock1993

| term_start6term_end6 = 831 AprilJanuary 19821995

| term_end6predecessor6 = [[Warwick Smith = 5 September(politician)|Warwick 1985Smith]]

| predecessor6successor6 = Phillip[[Peter LynchReith]]

| successor6office7 = Neil[[Treasurer of BrownAustralia]]

| deputy7term_start7 = 19 November = [[Peter Costello]]1977

| term_start7term_end7 = 3011 JanuaryMarch 19951983

| term_end7 predecessor7 = 11 March[[Phillip 1996Lynch]]

| predecessor7successor7 = [[AlexanderPaul Downer]]Keating

| term_start8 = 517 SeptemberJuly 19851977

| term_end8 = 920 MayDecember 19891977

| predecessor8 = AndrewPosition Peacockestablished

| successor8 = Andrew[[Victor PeacockGarland]]

| leader9term_start9 = 22 December = [[John Hewson]]1975

| term_start9term_end9 = 717 AprilJuly 19931977

| term_end9 predecessor9 = 31[[Sir JanuaryBob 1995Cotton]]

| predecessor9successor9 = [[Warwick Smith (politician)|WarwickWal SmithFife]]{{cise}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1939|707|26|df=y}}

'''John Winston Howard''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|OM|AC|SSI}} (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th [[prime minister of Australia]], from 1996 to 2007,. He holdingheld office as [[Liberal Party of Australia|leader of the [[Liberal Party of Australia]] and was the [[member of parliament]] (MP) for the [[New South Wales]] division of [[Division of Bennelong|Bennelong]] from 1974 to 2007. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the second-longest in [[History of Australia|Australian history]], behind only Sir [[Robert Menzies]]. Howard previouslyhas servedalso asbeen the 29tholdest [[treasurerliving ofAustralian Australia]]former fromprime 1977minister tosince 1983the underdeath Prime Ministerof [[MalcolmBob FraserHawke]] in May 2019.

In his first term, Howard introduced [[Gun laws in Australia|reformed gun laws]] in response to the [[Port Arthur massacre (Australia)|Port Arthur massacre]], and controversially implemented [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|a nationwide value-added tax]], breaking a pre-election promise. The [[Howard government]] called a [[snap election]] for [[1998 Australian federal election|October 1998]], which they won, albeit with a greatly reduced majority. Going into the [[2001 Australian federal election|2001 election]], the Coalition trailed behind Labor in [[opinion polling]]. However, in a campaign dominated by national security, Howard introduced [[Pacific Solution|changes to Australia's immigration system]] to deter [[asylum seekers]] from entering the country, and pledged military assistance to the United States following the [[September 11 attacks]]. Due to this, Howard won widespread support, and his government would be narrowly re-elected.

Howard is the fourth son of Mona (''née'' Kell) and [[Lyall Howard]], who married in 1925. Howard was also known as "Jack" in his youth.<ref name="SMH_CanterburySydney Morning Herald-2004">{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/17/1095394004427.html | title=Canterbury tales | newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald | date=18 September 2004 | access-date=5 September 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015230446/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/09/17/1095394004427.html | archive-date=15 October 2007 | url-status=live }}</ref> His older brothers were StanleyWalter (1926–20141926–2019), WalterStanley (b. 19291930–2014) and [[Bob Howard (academic)|Robert]] (b. 1936). Lyall Howard was an admirer of [[Winston Churchill]].{{sfnp|Garran|2004|p=10}} Howard's ancestors were English, Scottish, and Irish.{{sfnp|Errington|Van Onselen|2007|pp=2–4}} He is descended from [[Convicts in Australia|convict]] William Tooley, who was [[Penal transportation|transported]] to New South Wales in 1816 for stealing a watch.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.smh.com.au/technology/convict-records-placed-online-20070726-gdqpcm.html|title=Convict records placed online|publisher=Sydney Morning Herald|date=26 July 2007|access-date=26 August 2020|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130084030/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/convict-records-placed-online-20070726-gdqpcm.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Howard was born and raised in the [[Sydney]] suburb of [[Earlwood, New South Wales|Earlwood]], in a [[Methodist]] family; the site of his family home is now a [[KFC]] restaurant.<ref name="Kelly bio-1999">{{cite news| last = Kelly |author-link=Paul Kelly (journalist) | first = Paul | title = The Common Man as Prime Minister | work = The Australian | date = 19 May 1999 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2014/oct/28/childhood-homes-australian-prime-ministers-pictures|title=The childhood homes of Australia's prime ministers – in pictures|work=The Guardian|date=28 October 2014|access-date=8 April 2021|archive-date=12 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112000457/http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/gallery/2014/oct/28/childhood-homes-australian-prime-ministers-pictures|url-status=live}}</ref> His mother had been an office worker until her marriage, while his father and his paternal grandfather, Walter Howard, were both veterans of the [[First Australian Imperial Force]] in the [[First World War]]. They also ran two [[Dulwich Hill, New South Wales|Dulwich Hill]] petrol stations where Howard worked as a boy.<ref name="SMH_Petrol">{{Cite news | url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/06/18/1150569210879.html?page=fullpage | title=Tin soldered for the King in Howard's home | work=Sydney Morning Herald | date=19 June 2006 | access-date=29 August 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106150444/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2006/06/18/1150569210879.html?page=fullpage | archive-date=6 November 2012 | url-status=live }}</ref> In 1955, when Howard was aged 16, his father died, leaving his mother to take care of him.<ref>Birnbauer, Bill, "Rise Of A Common Man", ''The Age'', 4 March 1996.</ref>

Howard suffered a hearing impairment in his youth, leaving him with a slight [[speech disorder|speech impediment]],<ref name="transcript-lab_opening">{{Citation | url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressrel/1ET06/upload_binary/1et061.pdf;fileType%3Dapplication%2Fpdf | 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=Parlinfo | date=16 February 2000 | access-date=8 July 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160115115813/http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressrel/1ET06/upload_binary/1et061.pdf;fileType%3Dapplication%2Fpdf | archive-date=15 January 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref>{{Failed verification|date=June 2021}} and he continues to wear a hearing aid. 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 [[barrister]] as a likely career.{{sfnp|Errington|Van Onselen|2007|pp=21, 35}}

Howard attended Earlwood Primary School and [[Canterbury Boys' High School]].<ref name="SMH_CanterburySydney Morning Herald-2004"/> He won a citizenship prize in his final year at Earlwood (presented by local politician [[Eric Willis]]), and subsequently represented his secondary school at debating as well as [[cricket]] and [[rugby union]].<ref name="The Sports Factor">{{cite news | 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 | access-date=13 March 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511192716/http://www.abc.net.au/rn/sportsfactor/stories/2001/401143.htm | archive-date=11 May 2011 | url-status=live }}</ref> Cricket remained a lifelong hobby.<ref name="Kelly bio-1999"/> In his final year at school he took part in a radio show hosted by [[Jack Davey]], ''Give It a Go'', broadcast on the commercial radio station, [[2GB]].<ref name="young_howard_recording">{{Citation |url=http://australianpolitics.com/2002/06/09/john-howard-jack-davey-quiz.html |title=Recording Of John Howard At 16 On Jack Davey Quiz Show |publisher=australianpolitics.com |date=9 June 2002 |access-date=19 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201044848/http://australianpolitics.com/2002/06/09/john-howard-jack-davey-quiz.html |archive-date=1 December 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> After gaining his [[Leaving Certificate]], he studied law at the [[University of Sydney]], graduating with a [[Bachelor of Laws]] degree in 1962.<ref name="SMH_CanterburySydney Morning Herald-2004"/> Howard began working for the firm of Stephen Jaques and Stephen as a junior solicitor.{{sfnp|Errington|Van Onselen|2007|p=35}} In 1964, he took a trip around the world, visiting Britain, Europe, Israel, India, and Singapore.{{sfnp|Errington|Van Onselen|2007|p=39}} After returning to Sydney in 1965, he began working for [[Clayton Utz]], but "lacked the university grades and the social connections to be on track for a partnership". He subsequently moved to a smaller firm, which became Truman, Nelson and Howard after he was made a partner.{{sfnp|Errington|Van Onselen|2007|p=40}}

Howard married fellow Liberal Party member [[Janette Howard|Janette Parker]] in 1971, 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=[[National Archives of Australia]] | access-date=27 November 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070830111647/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/meetpm.asp?pmId=25 |archive-date = 30 August 2007}}</ref> John and Janette are [[Christianity|Christians]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/the-religious-beliefs-of-australia-s-prime-ministers#|title=The religious beliefs of Australia's prime ministers|last=Warhurst|first=John|date=11 November 2010|publisher=Eureka Street|access-date=27 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190811113143/https://www.eurekastreet.com.au/article/the-religious-beliefs-of-australia-s-prime-ministers|archive-date=11 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Howard joined the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] in 1957. He was a member of the party's New South Wales state executive and was federal president of the [[Young Liberals (Australia)|Young Liberals]] (the party youth organisation) from 1962 to 1964.<ref name="young_libs">{{Citation | url=http://www.younglibs.org.au/lifemembers.php | title=Young Liberals Life Members & Past Presidents | publisher=[[Young Liberals (Australia)|Young Liberals]] |year=2006 | access-date=8 July 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051221230853/http://www.younglibs.org.au/lifemembers.php |archive-date = 21 December 2005}}</ref> Howard supported [[Military history of Australia during the Vietnam War|Australia's involvement]] in the [[Vietnam War]], although has since said there were "aspects of it that could have been handled and explained differently".<ref name=4corners"Four Corners-1996">{{Citation | url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2004/s1212701.htm | title=John Howard Interview– 1996 | work=[[Four Corners (Australian TV program)|Four Corners]] | date=19 February 1996 | access-date=26 December 2006 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511192636/http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2004/s1212701.htm | archive-date=11 May 2011 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref>

At the [[1963 Australian federal election|1963 federal election]], Howard acted as campaign manager for [[Tom Hughes (Australian politician)|Tom Hughes]] in his local seat of [[Division of Parkes (1901-69)|Parkes]]. Hughes went on to defeat the 20-year Labor incumbent, [[Les Haylen]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/howard/before-office.aspx|title=John Howard – Before office|website=National Archives of Australia|access-date=29 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923183934/http://primeministers.naa.gov.au/primeministers/howard/before-office.aspx|archive-date=23 September 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> In mid-1964, Howard travelled to [[London]] to work and travel for a period. He volunteered for the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] in the electorate of [[Holborn and St Pancras South (UK Parliament constituency)|Holborn and St Pancras South]] at the [[1964 United Kingdom general election|1964 UK general election]].{{sfn|Howard|2010|p=35-36}} In 1967, with the support of party power brokers [[John Carrick (Australian politician)|John Carrick]] and [[Eric Willis]], Howard was endorsed as candidate for the marginal suburban state seat of [[Electoral district of Drummoyne|Drummoyne]], held by Labor's [[Reg Coady]]. Howard's mother sold the family home in [[Earlwood, New South Wales|Earlwood]] and rented a house with him at [[Five Dock, New South Wales|Five Dock]], a suburb within the electorate. At [[1968 New South Wales state election|the election in February 1968]], in which the incumbent state Liberal government was returned to office, Howard narrowly lost to Coady, despite campaigning vigorously.<ref name="Drummoyne_1968">{{Cite NSW election |year=1968 |district=Drummoyne |access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref>

At the [[1974 Australian federal election|1974 federal election]], Howard successfully contested the [[Division of Bennelong]], located in suburban Sydney.<ref name="HowardSenators aphand Members of the Parliament of Australia">{{cite Au Parliament |name=Hon John Howard MP |mpid=ZD4 |access-date=2021-11-11}}</ref> The election saw the return of the [[Gough Whitlam]]-led Labor government. Howard supported [[Malcolm Fraser]] for the leadership of the Liberal Party against [[Billy Snedden]] following the 1974 election.{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|p=101}} When Fraser won office at the [[1975 Australian federal election|1975 federal election]], Howard was appointed [[Minister for Competition Policy and Consumer Affairs (Australia)|Minister for Business and Consumer Affairs]], a position in which he served until 1977.<ref name="NMANational Museum of Australia-2007"/> At this stage, he followed the [[protectionist]] and pro-regulation stance of Fraser and the Liberal Party.{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|pp=101–103}}

In December 1977, aged 38, Howard was appointed [[Treasurer of Australia|Treasurer]],<ref name="HowardSenators aphand Members of the Parliament of Australia"/> in place of [[Phillip Lynch]].<ref name="NMANational Museum of Australia-2007"/> He was the youngest Treasurer since [[Chris Watson]] in 1904. Fraser said in his memoirs that he appointed him despite his limited experience because "he was bright and he got across a brief well, and he was a good manager".{{sfn|Fraser|Simons|2011|p=351}}

During his five years in the position, Howard became an adherent of [[market economics|free-market economics]],{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|p=102}} which was challenging economic orthodoxies in place for most of the century.{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|pp=50–53}} He came to favour tax reform including broad-based taxation (later the [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|GST]]), a freer industrial system including the dismantling of the centralised wage-fixing system, the abolition of compulsory [[trade unionism]], privatisation and deregulation.<ref name="Kelly bio-1999"/>

Following the defeat of the Fraser government and Fraser's subsequent resignation from parliament, Howard contested the Liberal leadership against [[Andrew Peacock]], [[1983 Liberal Party of Australia leadership election|losing 36–20]]. However, he was re-elected as deputy leader. The Liberal Party were again defeated by Labor at the early [[1984 Australian federal election|1984 election]]. In 1985, as Labor's position in opinion polls improved, Peacock's popularity sank and Howard's profile rose. Leadership speculation persisted, and Peacock said he would no longer accept Howard as deputy unless he offered assurances that he would not challenge for the leadership. Following Howard's refusal to offer such an assurance, Peacock sought, in September 1985, to replace him with [[John Moore (Australian politician)|John Moore]] as deputy leader.<ref name="Barclay 264-2008">{{cite journal |last1=Barclay |first1=Glen St J. |title=Australian Political Chronicle |journal=Australian Journal of Politics & History |date=7 April 2008 |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=455–500 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-8497.1986.tb00890.x |issn = 0004-9522}}</ref> The party room re-elected Howard as deputy on 5 September 38 votes to 31, which Peacock treated as a [[vote of no confidence]] in his leadership. He subsequently called [[Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill, 1985|a leadership ballot]], which he chose not to contest. Howard defeated [[Jim Carlton]] by 57 votes to six, thus becoming Leader of the Opposition.<ref>{{cite web|author=George |url=http://poliquant.com/major-party-leadership-ballots-since-1966/ |title=poliquant.com |publisher=poliquant.com |access-date=17 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107042840/http://poliquant.com/major-party-leadership-ballots-since-1966/ |archive-date=7 January 2014 }}</ref>{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|p=192}}<ref>{{Citation | last = Ramsay | first = Alan | author-link = Alan Ramsey | title = Howard's labours are slipping away | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 6 March 2004 | page = 37 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/05/1078464638831.html | access-date = 7 August 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071014102336/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/03/05/1078464638831.html | archive-date = 14 October 2007 | url-status = live}}</ref>

Howard was in effect the Liberal party's first pro-market leader in the conservative [[Coalition (Australia)|Coalition]] and spent the next two years working to revise Liberal policy away from that of Fraser's.<ref name=AJPH2008p279"Australian Journal of Politics & History-2008">{{cite journal |title=Australian Political Chronicle January-June, 1987 |journal=Australian Journal of Politics & History |date=7 April 2008 |volume=33 |issue=3 |pages=279–310 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-8497.1987.tb00153.x }}</ref> In his own words he was an "economic radical" and a [[social conservatism|social conservative]].{{sfnp|Markus|2001|pp=85–89}} Referring to the pro-market liberalism of the 1980s, Howard said in July 1986 that "The times will suit me".<ref name='SMH20030818_TimesDoSuitHim'"Summers-2003">{{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|work=Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 August 2003|access-date=7 August 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014102331/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/08/17/1061059710322.html?from=storyrhs|archive-date=14 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> That year the economy was seen to be in crisis with a 40% devaluation of the Australian dollar, a marked increase in the current account deficit and the loss of the Federal Government's triple A rating.<ref name='SMH20030818_TimesDoSuitHim'"Summers-2003"/> In response to the economic circumstances, Howard persistently attacked the Labor government and offered his free-market reform agenda.<ref name='SMH20030818_TimesDoSuitHim'"Summers-2003"/> Support for the Labor Party and Hawke strengthened in 1985 and 1986 and Howard's approval ratings dropped in the face of infighting between Howard and Peacock supporters, a "public manifestation of disunity" over policy positions, and questions over Howard's leadership.<ref name="Barclay 264-2008"/>

Hawke called the [[1987 Australian federal election|1987 federal election]] six months early. In addition to the Howard–Peacock rivalry, Queensland National Party criticism of the federal Liberal and National leadership<ref name=AJPH2008p279"Australian Journal of Politics & History-2008"/> culminated in longtime [[Queensland Premier]] [[Joh Bjelke-Petersen]] making a bid to become prime minister himself—the "[[Joh for Canberra]]" campaign. Keating campaigned against Howard's proposed tax changes forcing Howard to admit a [[double counting (accounting)|double-counting]] in the proposal,{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|pp=427, 457}} and emphasising to the electorate that the package would mean at that stage undisclosed cuts to government services.

Howard was not helped when the federal Nationals broke off the Coalition agreement in support of the "Joh for Canberra" push, which led to a large number of three-cornered contests. Bjelke-Petersen abandoned his bid for prime minister a month before the election, however, the damage had already been done. Additionally, a number of swing voters outside Queensland were alarmed at the prospect of Bjelke-Petersen holding the balance of power, and voted for Labor to ensure that the Liberals and Nationals would be defeated. As a result, the Hawke government was handily reelected, winning the most seats that Labor had ever won in an election.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1415/FedElect|title=Federal election results 1901–2014|work=Parliament of Australia|access-date=11 June 2013|archive-date=26 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326233508/http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1415/FedElect|url-status=live}}</ref>

In his social agenda, Howard promoted the traditional family and was antipathetic to the promotion of [[multiculturalism]] at the expense of a shared Australian identity.{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|pp=419}} The controversial immigration policy, ''[[One Australia policy|One Australia]]'', outlined a vision of "one nation and one future" and opposed multiculturalism.{{sfnp|Markus|2001|pp=85–89}} Howard publicly suggested that to support "social cohesion" the rate of Asian immigration be "slowed down a little".{{sfnp|Errington|Van Onselen|2007|p=157}} The comments divided opinion within the Coalition, and undermined Howard's standing amongst Liberal party figures including federal and state Ministers, intellectual opinion makers, business leaders, and within the Asia Pacific. Three Liberal MPs [[crossed the floor]] and two abstained in response to a motion put forward by Prime Minister Hawke to affirm that race or ethnicity would not be used as immigrant selection criteria. Many Liberals later nominated the issue as instrumental in Howard subsequently losing the leadership in 1989.{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|pp=427–428}} In a 1995 newspaper article (and in 2002 as prime minister), Howard recanted his 1988 remarks on curbing Asian immigration.<ref name="Aus_spiceMegalogenis-2007">{{Cite news |last=Megalogenis |first=George |author-link=George Megalogenis |title=Asian influence spices up contest |newspaper=[[The Australian]] |page=11 | date = 27 February 2007 | url = http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21293182-28737,00.html | access-date = 27 July 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070825044345/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21293182-28737,00.html | archive-date = 25 August 2007 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all}}</ref>{{sfn|Ward|1995}}

In line with "One Australia's" rejection of Aboriginal land rights, Howard said the idea of an Aboriginal treaty was "repugnant to the ideals of One Australia"{{sfnp|Markus|2001|pp=85–89}} 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 | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 16 December 2005 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/12/15/1134500961607.html | access-date = 19 August 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070321112732/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2005/12/15/1134500961607.html | archive-date = 21 March 2007 | url-status = live }}</ref> Howard is opposed to abortion and voted against the [[RU-486]] abortion drug being legalised.<ref>{{cite news |title=Howard's secret abortion agenda |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/howards-secret-abortion-agenda-20050211-gdzjf0.html |work=The Age |date=11 February 2005 |access-date=6 December 2020 |archive-date=30 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930101126/https://www.theage.com.au/national/howards-secret-abortion-agenda-20050211-gdzjf0.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Zinn |first1=Christopher |title=Health minister is stripped of his right to veto use of abortion pill |journal=BMJ |date=25 February 2006 |volume=332 |issue=7539 |pages=441 |doi=10.1136/bmj.332.7539.441-a |pmid=16497741 |pmc=1382568 }}</ref>

As the [[Early 1990s recession|country's economic position worsened]] in 1989, public opinion moved away from Labor, however there was no firm opinion poll lead for Howard or the Coalition.{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|p=470}} In February, Liberal Party president and prominent businessman, [[John Elliott (businessman)|John Elliott]], said confidentially to Andrew Peacock that he would support him in a leadership challenge against Howard,{{sfnp|Kelly|1994|pp=427, 457}} and in May a [[1989 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill|surprise leadership coup]] was launched, ousting Howard as Liberal leader. When asked that day whether he could become Liberal leader again, Howard likened it to ''"Lazarus with a triple bypass"''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/28/1077677011993.html |title=Thoughts of a bypassed Lazarus |work=The Age |location=Melbourne |date=29 February 2004 |access-date=25 July 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040510090122/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/02/28/1077677011993.html|archive-date=10 May 2004|url-status=live}}</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">{{Citation|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22129486-2,00.html |title=Howard: 'I was drunk at work' |work=[[The Courier-Mail]] |date=25 July 2007 |access-date=25 July 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903193447/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C22129486-2%2C00.html |archive-date= 3 September 2007 }}</ref> Declining Peacock's offer of Shadow Education, Howard went to the backbench and a new period of party disunity ensued which was highlighted by a Four Corners episode detailing the coup against Howard.<ref>[https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/true-believers---1989/2841768 True Believers - 1989] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216123043/https://www.abc.net.au/4corners/true-believers---1989/2841768 |date=16 February 2021 }} ABC Four Corners 8 August 2011</ref>

Following the Coalition's [[1990 Australian federal election|1990 election]] loss, Howard considered challenging Peacock for the leadership, but didn't have enough support for a bid. Ultimately, Peacock resigned and was replaced with Howard's former staffer [[John Hewson]] who defeated [[Peter Reith]]; Peacock supported Hewson as a symbol of [[generational change]].<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EuqFg5dUmgQC&pg=PA45 |title=The March of Patriots: The Struggle for Modern Australia |author-last=Kelly |author-first=Paul |author-link=Paul Kelly (journalist) |page=45 |chapter=Big Bang Liberalism |publisher=Melbourne Univ. Publishing |year=2011 |location=Melbourne, Australia |isbn=978-0-522-85738-2}}</ref> Howard was a supporter of Hewson's economic program, with a [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|Goods and Services Tax]] (GST) as its centrepiece. Howard was Shadow Minister for Industrial relations and oversaw Jobsback section of Fightback. After Hewson lost the "unloseable" [[1993 Australian federal election|1993 election]] to [[Paul Keating]], Howard unsuccessfully [[1993 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill|challenged]] Hewson for the leadership. In 1994, he was again passed over for the leadership, which went to [[Alexander Downer]]. Hewson had pledged to resign if defeated in 1993 but did not resign to block Howard from succeeding him.<ref>[https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/john-hewson-john-howards-republican-debate-tactics-threaten-samesex-marriage-20170921-gylqbj.html John Hewson: John Howard's republican debate tactics threaten same-sex marriage] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201116185450/https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/john-hewson-john-howards-republican-debate-tactics-threaten-samesex-marriage-20170921-gylqbj.html |date=16 November 2020 }} Sydney Morning Herald 8 August 2011</ref>

In January 1995, leaked internal Liberal Party polling showed that with gaffe-prone Downer as leader, the Coalition had slim chance of holding its marginal seats in the next election, let alone of winning government. Media speculation of a leadership spill ended when, on 26 January 1995, Downer resigned as Liberal Leader and Howard was [[1995 Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill|elected]] unopposed to replace him.{{sfn|Ward|1995}} The [[Coalition (Australia)|Coalition]] subsequently opened a large lead over Labor in most opinion polls, and Howard overtook [[Paul Keating]] as preferred prime minister. Hoping to avoid a repeat of mistakes made at the 1993 election, Howard revised his earlier statements against [[Medicare (Australia)|Medicare]] and Asian immigration, describing Australia as "a unique intersection between Europe, North America and Asia".<ref name=4corners"Four Corners-1996"/><ref name="Aus_spiceMegalogenis-2007"/> This allowed Howard to campaign on a "small-target" strategy. He focused on the economy and memory of the early 1990s recession, and on the longevity of the Labor government, which in 1996 had been in power for 13 years. In May 1995, Howard also pledgedpromised that thea GST would not"never ever" be implementedpart byof the Liberal Party's aspolicy. Howard, thewhen sincemaking retiredthe promise, Hewson'sreferred defeatto inthe 1993GST as wasbeing a rejectionlosing ofpolicy thefor GSTHewson's election campaign in 1993.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/lets-have-the-honest-truth-once-and-for-all-20040818-gdjkkl.html|title = Let's have the honest truth, once and for all|date = 18 August 2004|access-date = 23 November 2020|archive-date = 24 November 2020|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201124033305/https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/lets-have-the-honest-truth-once-and-for-all-20040818-gdjkkl.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-07-21 |title=Timeline: Who's said what about the Goods and Services Tax |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-21/gst-promises-timeline-who-said-what-abbott-howard-hockey-hewson/5463652 |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>

==Prime Ministerminister==

Howard entered office with a 45-seat majority—the second-biggest majority in Australian history, only behind Fraser's 55-seat majority in 1975. At the age of 56, he was sworn in as prime minister on 11 March 1996, ending a record 13 years of Coalition opposition.<ref name="NMANational Museum of Australia-2007">{{Citation | url=http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers/john_howard | title=Prime Ministers of Australia: John Howard | publisher=[[National Museum of Australia]] | date=1 August 2007 | access-date=14 August 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326111912/http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers/john_howard | archive-date=26 March 2016 | url-status=live }}</ref> Howard departed from tradition and made his primary residence [[Kirribilli House]] in Sydney rather than [[The Lodge (Australia)|The Lodge]] in Canberra.<ref>{{Citation |last=Milne |first=Glenn |url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21878816-5001021,00.html |title=PM hires out Kirribilli House |publisher=News.com.au |date=10 June 2007 |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615022840/http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,21878816-5001021,00.html |archive-date=15 June 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Early in the term Howard had championed significant new restrictions on gun ownership following the [[Port Arthur massacre (Australia)|Port Arthur massacre]] in which 35 people had been shot dead. Achieving agreement in the face of immense opposition from within the Coalition and some State governments, was credited with significantly elevating Howard's stature as prime minister despite a backlash from core Coalition rural constituents.<ref name="TheAustralian HowardBroadcasting Years episode 4Corporation-2008">{{cite video | title = The Howard Years (episode 4) | medium = TV Series | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | location = Australia |year=2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Kelly | first = Paul | title = A Year of Governing Cautiously | newspaper = The Weekend Australian |author-link=Paul Kelly (journalist) | date = 1–2 May 1997}}</ref><ref>[http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers/john_howard Prime Ministers of Australia: John Howard] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326111912/http://www.nma.gov.au/primeministers/john_howard |date=26 March 2016 }}, National Museum of Australia</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Commonwealth |journal=Australian Journal of Politics & History |date=28 June 2008 |volume=41 |issue=3 |pages=444–448 |doi=10.1111/j.1467-8497.1995.tb01274.x }}</ref>

Howard's initial silence on the views of [[Pauline Hanson]]—a disendorsed Liberal Party candidate and later independent MP from the Brisbane area—was criticised in the press as an endorsement of her views.<ref name=howardyearschronology"The Howard Years">[http://www.abc.net.au/news/howardyears/chronology/assets/chronology.pdf The Howard Years&nbsp;– Chronology] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090225161808/http://www.abc.net.au/news/howardyears/chronology/assets/chronology.pdf |date=25 February 2009 }}, [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]</ref> When Hanson had made derogatory statements about minorities, Howard not only canceledcancelled her Liberal endorsement, but declared she would not be allowed to sit as a Liberal if elected.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-20/liberal-party-dump-charlton-candidate-kevin-baker-over-lewd-web/4900436 Liberal candidate Kevin Baker quits race for Charlton over lewd website] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031180105/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-08-20/liberal-party-dump-charlton-candidate-kevin-baker-over-lewd-web/4900436 |date=31 October 2016 }}. ABC News, 20 August 2013.</ref> Howard repudiated Hanson's views seven months after her maiden speech.<ref name=howardyearschronology"The Howard Years" />

From 1997, Howard spearheaded the Coalition push to introduce a [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|Goods and Services Tax]] (GST) at the subsequent election; this was despite saying, before winning the prime ministership, that it would "never ever" be part of Coalition policy.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1582253.htm |title=A look back at Howard's ten years |publisher=ABC |location=Australia |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511192629/http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2006/s1582253.htm |archive-date=11 May 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> A long-held conviction of Howard's, his tax reform package was credited with "breaking the circuit" of party morale—boosting his confidence and direction, which had appeared to wane early in the Government's second term.{{sfnp|Errington|Van Onselen|2007|pp=272–273}} The [[1998 Australian federal election|1998 election]] was dubbed a "referendum on the GST", and the tax changes—including the GST—were implemented in the government's second term after amendments to the legislation were negotiated with the [[Australian Democrats]] to ensure its passage through the Senate.<ref name="98ElectionBean-1998">{{cite report|title=Australian Election Study, 1998|first1=Clive|last1=Bean|first2=David|last2=Gow|first3=Ian|last3=McAllister|author-link3=Ian McAllister (political scientist)|publisher=[[Australian National University]]|date=1998|doi=10.4225/13/50BBF9E610EA3}}</ref>

Through much of its first term, opinion polling was disappointing for the government.<ref name="The Howard Years episode 1">{{cite video | title = The Howard Years (episode 1) | medium = TV Series | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | location = Australia |year=2008 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ward |first1=Ian |title=Commonwealth of Australia July to December 1997 |journal=Australian Journal of Politics and History |date=June 1998 |volume=44 |issue=2 |pages=233–244 |doi=10.1111/1467-8497.00014 |url=https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:11176/ward98.pdf }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Kelly | first = Paul |author-link=Paul Kelly (journalist) | title = Howard's Big Picture and Big Gamble | work = The Australian | date = 23 September 1998}}</ref> The popularity of Pauline Hanson, and the new restrictions on gun ownership drew many traditionally Coalition voters away from the Howard government. Also unpopular with voters were large spending cuts aimed at eliminating the budget deficit (and Howard's distinction between "core" and "non-core" election promises when cutting spending commitments), [[Workplace Relations Act 1996|industrial changes]] and the [[1998 Australian Waterfront Dispute|1998 waterfront dispute]], the partial sale of government telecommunications company [[Telstra]], and the Government's commitment to a GST.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The politics of race and immigration in Australia: One Nation voting in the 1998 Election|journal=[[Ethnic and Racial Studies]]|volume=25|number=5|date=5 September 2002|publisher=[[Routledge]]| first1=Rachel|last1=Gibson|first2=Ian|last2=McAllister|first3=Tami|last3=Swenson|author-link2=Ian McAllister (political scientist)|pages=823–844|doi=10.1080/0141987022000000286|s2cid=145621790 }}</ref>

Howard called a [[snap election]] for October 1998, three months sooner than required. The Coalition actually lost the national two-party preferred vote to Labor, suffering a 14-seat swing. However, the uneven nature of the swing allowed Howard to win a second term in government, with a considerably reduced majority (from 45 seats to 12). Howard himself finished just short of a majority on the first count in his own seat, and was only assured of reelection on the ninth count. He ultimately finished with a fairly comfortable 56 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.<ref name="98ElectionBean-1998"/>

In 1998, Howard convened a [[Australian Constitutional Convention 1998|constitutional convention]] which decided in principle that Australia should [[Republicanism in Australia|become a republic]]. At the convention Howard confirmed himself as a monarchist, and said that of the republican options, he preferred the minimalist model. Howard outlined his support for retaining the [[Monarchy in Australia|Australian constitutional monarchy]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/republic98/hansard/hans1.html |archive-url=https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/19991210000000/http:/www.theage.com.au/republic98/hansard/hans1.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=10 December 1999 |title=Australian Web Archive |publisher=webarchive.nla.gov.au |date=23 August 2006 |access-date=13 May 2011}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Despite opinion polls suggesting Australians favoured a republic, a [[1999 Australian republic referendum|1999 referendum]] rejected the model chosen by the convention.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/referendums/1999_Referendum_Reports_Statistics/|title=1999 referendum report|work=[[Australian Electoral Commission]]|date=24 October 2012|access-date=8 September 2021|archive-date=21 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210921020831/https://www.aec.gov.au/Elections/referendums/1999_Referendum_Reports_Statistics/|url-status=live}}</ref> The new [[President of Indonesia]], [[B.J. Habibie]], had some months earlier agreed to grant special autonomy to [[Indonesian occupation of East Timor|Indonesian-occupied]] [[East Timor]]. However, following the receipt of a letter sent by Howard to Habibie suggesting that a referendum be held, Habibie made a snap decision to hold a vote on independence.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2008-11-15 |title=Howard pushed me on E Timor referendum: Habibie |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-11-16/howard-pushed-me-on-e-timor-referendum-habibie/207044 |access-date=2023-03-17 |archive-date=8 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220608022946/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2008-11-16/howard-pushed-me-on-e-timor-referendum-habibie/207044 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{sfn|Blaxland|2013|p=143}} This referendum on the territory's independence triggered a Howard and Downer orchestrated shift in Australian policy. In September 1999, Howard organised an Australian-led international peace-keeping force to East Timor ([[INTERFET]]), after [[pro-Indonesia militia]] launched a violent "scorched-earth" campaign in retaliation to the referendum's overwhelming vote in favour of independence. The successful mission was widely supported by Australian voters, but the government was criticised{{who|date=November 2010}} for "foreign policy failure" following the violence and collapse of diplomatic relations with Indonesia. By Howard's fourth term, relations with Indonesia had recovered to include counter-terrorism cooperation and Australia's $1bn [[Boxing Day Tsunami]] relief efforts, and were assisted by good relations between Howard and Indonesian president [[Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono]].<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.kbri-canberra.org.au/speeches/2005/050301e.htm |title='Indonesia&nbsp;– Australian Relations: East Timor, Bali Bombing, Tsunami and Beyond' by Ambassador Imron Cotan |publisher=Kbri-canberra.org.au |access-date=25 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107014127/http://www.kbri-canberra.org.au/speeches/2005/050301e.htm |archive-date=7 January 2010 }}</ref>

In 1999, Howard negotiated a "[[Motion of Reconciliation]]" with Aboriginal Senator [[Aden Ridgeway]]. Eschewing use of the word "sorry", the motion recognised mistreatment of Aborigines as the "most blemished chapter" in Australia's history; offered "deep and sincere ''regret''" for past injustices.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=(Id:media/pressrel/23e06);rec=0; |title=ParlInfo&nbsp;– Title Details |publisher=Parlinfo.aph.gov.au |access-date=25 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091019054901/http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p%3Bquery%3D%28Id%3Amedia/pressrel/23e06%29%3Brec%3D0%3B |archive-date=19 October 2009}}</ref> Following his 2007 loss of the prime ministership, Howard was the only living former prime minister who declined to attend the [[Apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples|February 2008 apology]] made by [[Kevin Rudd]] with bi-partisan support.<ref>{{Citation | last = Welch | first = Dylan | title = Kevin Rudd says sorry | work = The Sydney Morning Herald | date = 13 February 2008 | url = http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudd-says-sorry/2008/02/13/1202760342960.html | format = online briefing | access-date = 22 February 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100227111927/http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/rudd-says-sorry/2008/02/13/1202760342960.html | archive-date = 27 February 2010 | url-status = live}}</ref>

Howard did not commit to serving a full term if he won the next election; on his 61st birthday in July 2000 he said he would consider the question of retirement when he turned 64.<ref>{{Citation | work =The 7:30 Report | title =When I'm 64: Howard | publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date =5 October 2001 | url =http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2001/s383820.htm | access-date =29 August 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071014125458/http://abc.net.au/7.30/content/2001/s383820.htm | archive-date =14 October 2007 | url-status =live}}</ref> This was interpreted as boosting Costello's leadership aspirations, and the enmity over leadership and succession resurfaced publicly when Howard did not retire at the age of 64.<ref>{{Citation | last = Henderson | first = Gerard | author-link = Gerard Henderson | title = The high cost of Howard's big tease | work = The Age | location = Melbourne | page = 11 | date = 10 June 2003 | url = http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/09/1055010926380.html | access-date = 12 January 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081211192155/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/06/09/1055010926380.html | archive-date = 11 December 2008 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Yaxley | first = Louise | title = PM decides to stay | work = [[PM (ABC Radio)|PM]] | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] | date = 3 June 2003 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s871302.htm | format = transcript | access-date = 29 August 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20050818010232/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2003/s871302.htm | archive-date = 18 August 2005 | url-status = live}}</ref> In the first half of 2001, rising petrol prices, voter enmity over the implementation of the GST, a spike in inflation and economic slowdown led to bad opinion polls and predictions the Government would lose office in the election later that year.<ref name=wear2001>{{cite journal |last1=Wear |first1=Rae |title=Commonwealth of Australia January to June 2001 |journal=Australian Journal of Politics and History |date=December 2001 |volume=47 |issue=4 |pages=531–593 |doi=10.1111/1467-8497.00244 }}</ref> The government announced a series of policy reversals and softenings which boosted the government's fortunes, as did news that the economy had avoided recession. The government's position on "border protection", in particular the [[Tampa affair]] where Howard refused the landing of asylum seekers rescued by a Norwegian freighter, consolidated the improving polls for the government, as did the [[September 11 attacks|11 September 2001 attacks]].<ref name="Heinemann">{{Citation |url=http://www.hi.com.au/resource/rfactsa.asp?kla=13&subtopicid=3274 |title=Tampa Crisis |work=Infobase (Atlas) |publisher=[[Heinemann (book publisher)|Heinemann Interactive]] |access-date=15 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821101703/http://www.hi.com.au/resource/rfactsa.asp?kla=13&subtopicid=3274 |archive-date=21 August 2006}}</ref> Howard led the government to victory in the [[2001 Australian federal election|2001 federal election]] with an increased majority.<ref>{{Citation | work =PM | title =Latest poll 'a nonsense': former Labor pollster | publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date =1 June 2004 | url =http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1120811.htm | access-date =29 August 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20090727123002/http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2004/s1120811.htm | archive-date =27 July 2009 | url-status =live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | work =Australia votes | title =Antony Green's Election Summary | publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation | year =2004 | url =http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/guide/summary.htm | access-date =29 August 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071214030334/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2004/guide/summary.htm | archive-date =14 December 2007 | url-status =live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation | first=Shaun | last=Carney | title=The challenge for Australia | work=The Age | location=Melbourne | date=11 September 2004 | url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/10/1094789685556.html | access-date=29 August 2007 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090727220337/http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/09/10/1094789685556.html | archive-date=27 July 2009 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Howard had first met [[President of the United States|US President]] [[George W. Bush]] in the days before the 11 September terrorist attacks and was in Washington the morning of the attacks.<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2465378.htm |title=Howard accepts Presidential Medal of Freedom, AM program transcript, ABC Radio |publisher=ABC |location=Australia |date=14 January 2009 |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327234713/http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2008/s2465378.htm |archive-date=27 March 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> In response to the attacks, Howard invoked the [[ANZUS Treaty]]. In October 2001, he committed Australian military personnel to the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]] despite widespread opposition. Howard developed a strong personal relationship with the President,<ref name="NYT_Ally">{{Citation | last = Johnston | first = Tim | title = Ally of Bush Is Defeated in Australia | url = https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/world/asia/25australia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | work = The New York Times | page = 8 | date = 25 November 2007 | access-date = 6 May 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190328181636/https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/world/asia/25australia.html?_r=1&oref=slogin | archive-date = 28 March 2019 | url-status = live}}</ref> and they shared often similar ideological positions&nbsp;– including on the role of the United States in world affairs and their approach to the "[[War on Terror]]". In May 2003, Howard made an overnight stay at Bush's [[Prairie Chapel Ranch]] in Texas, after which Bush said that Howard "...is not only a man of steel, he's showed the world he's a man of heart."<ref name="SMH+lauds">{{Citation |title=Bush lauds Howard as 'man of steel' |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/04/1051987592763.html |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=4 May 2003 |access-date=6 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080207154031/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/05/04/1051987592763.html |archive-date=7 February 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In March 2003, Australia joined the US-led "[[Multinational force in Iraq]]" in [[Australian contribution to the 2003 invasion of Iraq|sending 2,000 troops and naval units]] to support in the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]]. In response to the Australian participation in the invasion, there were large protests in Australian cities during March 2003, and Prime Minister Howard was heckled from the public gallery of Parliament House.<ref>{{cite news |title=Malaysian PM condemns Iraq war |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2880519.stm |work=BBC News |date=24 March 2003 |access-date=19 August 2008 |archive-date=1 December 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201074056/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/2880519.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> While opinion polls showed that opposition to the war without UN backing was between 48 and 92 per cent,<ref name = SMH1April2003>{{Citation|url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/31/1048962700480.html|title = Support for the fight growing|last = Riley|first = Mark|date = 1 April 2003|access-date = 22 August 2008|work = Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080925222649/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/03/31/1048962700480.html|archive-date = 25 September 2008|url-status = live}}</ref> Howard remained preferred prime-minister over the Leader of the Opposition, [[Simon Crean]], although his approval ratings were lower compared to before the war.<ref>When it was reported that Iraq did not possess weapons of mass destruction, 70% of Australians believed Howard misled them with most believing he did so unintentionally.</ref><ref name = SMH24Sept2003>{{Citation|url = http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/23/1064082997799.html|title = Poll: majority of Australians 'feel misled' by Howard|last = Riley|first = Mark|date = 24 September 2003|access-date = 22 August 2008|work = Sydney Morning Herald|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080925222709/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/09/23/1064082997799.html|archive-date = 25 September 2008|url-status = live}}</ref>

Throughout 2002 and 2003 Howard had increased his opinion poll lead over Labor Party leader, [[Simon Crean]]. In December 2003, Crean resigned after losing party support and [[Mark Latham]] was elected leader. Howard called [[2004 Australian federal election|an election for 9 October 2004]]. While the government was behind Labor in the opinion polls, Howard himself had a large lead over Latham as preferred prime minister. In the lead up to the election, Howard again did not commit to serving a full term.<ref>{{Citation | work =The 7:30 Report | title =I'm committed and ready, says Latham | publisher =Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date =7 October 2004 | url =http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1215444.htm | access-date =29 August 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071014125521/http://abc.net.au/7.30/content/2004/s1215444.htm | archive-date =14 October 2007 | url-status =live }}</ref> Howard attacked Latham's economic record as Mayor of [[City of Liverpool (New South Wales)|Liverpool City Council]] and attacked Labor's economic history.<ref name='TheAge20040830_PMonInterestRates'>{{Citation | last =Wade | first =Matt | title =Labor means rate rises, PM claims | work =The Age | location =Australia | date =30 August 2004 | url =http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/29/1093717840808.html | access-date =29 August 2007 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20071014102348/http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/08/29/1093717840808.html | archive-date =14 October 2007 | url-status =live }}</ref> The election resulted in a five-seat swing to the Coalition, netting it a majority almost as large as in 1996. It also resulted the first, albeit slim, government majority in the Senate since 1981. For the second time since becoming prime minister, Howard came up short of a majority in the first count for his own seat. He was assured of reelection on the third count, ultimately winning 53.3 per cent of the two-party preferred vote.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/2004/2004repsnsw.txt |title=2004 legislative election: House of Representatives: NSW |work=Psephos - Adam Carr's election archive |access-date=2021-11-11 |archive-date=26 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150826013726/http://psephos.adam-carr.net/countries/a/australia/2004/2004repsnsw.txt |url-status=live }}</ref> On 21 December 2004, Howard overtook [[Bob Hawke]] to become the second longest-serving Australian prime minister after [[Robert Menzies|Sir Robert Menzies]].<ref name="ABC_favourite">{{cite news |title=PM still favourite as he celebrates milestone |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-12-21/pm-still-favourite-as-he-celebrates-milestone/606192 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=20 December 2004 |access-date=25 December 2020 |archive-date=9 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209220804/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-12-21/pm-still-favourite-as-he-celebrates-milestone/606192 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2006, with the government now controlling both houses of parliament for the first time since the Fraser era, industrial relations changes were enacted. Named "[[WorkChoices]]" and championed by Howard, they were intended to fundamentally change the employer-employee relationship. Opposed by a broad trade union campaign and antipathy within the electorate, WorkChoices was subsequently seen as a major factor in the government's 2007 election loss.<ref name="TheAustralian HowardBroadcasting Years episode 4Corporation-2008"/><ref>{{Citation |last=Wanna |first=John |year=2007 |title=Australian Political Chronicle: July–December 2007 |journal=Australian Journal of Politics and History |volume=54 |issue=2 |page=291}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |last = Wanna | first=John |year=1995 |title= Australian Political Chronicle: January–June 2007 |journal= Australian Journal of Politics and History |volume= 53 |issue= 4 |page=619}}</ref>

In April 2006, the government announced it had completely paid off the last of $96&nbsp;billion of Commonwealth net debt inherited when it came to power in 1996.<ref name='CostelloSpeech200604_DebtRepaid'>{{Citation|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=20 April 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070901031957/http://www.treasurer.gov.au/tsr/content/speeches/2006/008.asp |archive-date=1 September 2007 }}</ref> By 2007, Howard had been in office for 11 of the 15 years of consecutive annual growth for the Australian economy. Unemployment had fallen from 8.1% at the start of his term to 4.1% in 2007,<ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/41703847D79B26F4CA25716A00751846?opendocument |title=Australian Bureau of Statistics |date=6 April 2006 |publisher=Abs.gov.au |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611174036/http://abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/41703847D79B26F4CA25716A00751846?opendocument |archive-date=11 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Citation |url=http://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/27AF92FCC4F2D2CECA2573AF0014B6C3?opendocument |title=Australia Bureau of Statistics |date=8 November 2007 |publisher=Abs.gov.au |access-date=25 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090611163422/http://abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/allprimarymainfeatures/27AF92FCC4F2D2CECA2573AF0014B6C3?opendocument |archive-date=11 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> and average weekly earnings grew 24.4% in real terms.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6302.0Main+Features1Nov%202004?OpenDocument=|title=Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, Nov 2004|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|date=24 February 2005|access-date=29 January 2022|archive-date=29 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129112108/https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6302.0Main+Features1Nov%202004?OpenDocument=|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6302.0Main+Features1Feb%202007?OpenDocument=|title=Average Weekly Earnings, Australia, Feb 2007|publisher=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]]|date=17 May 2007|access-date=29 January 2022|archive-date=28 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528124713/https://www.abs.gov.au/AUSSTATS/abs@.nsf/Lookup/6302.0Main+Features1Feb%202007?OpenDocument=|url-status=live}}</ref> During his prime ministership, opinion polling consistently showed that a majority of the electorate thought his government were better to handle the economy than the Opposition.<ref>{{cite web|title=Importance and best party to handle major issues |publisher=Newspoll/The Australian |date=6 June 2006 |url=http://www.newspoll.com.au/image_uploads/0604%20issues.pdf |access-date=15 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070614034149/http://www.newspoll.com.au/image_uploads/0604%20issues.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2007 }}</ref>

In 2006, [[Ian McLachlan]] and [[Peter Costello]] said that under a 1994 deal between Howard and Costello, Howard would serve one and a half terms as prime minister if the Coalition won the next election before stepping aside to allow Costello to take over. Howard denied that this constituted a deal;<ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19736460-2,00.html |title=Costello backers savage Howard |publisher=[[News Limited]] |author=Steve Lewis |date=10 July 2006 |access-date=10 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716014040/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C10117%2C19736460-2%2C00.html |archive-date=16 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,10117,19734797-2,00.html |title=No, Prime Minister, you cannot deny it |publisher=[[News Limited]] |author=Glenn Milne |date=10 July 2006 |access-date=10 July 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060716014001/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C10117%2C19734797-2%2C00.html |archive-date=16 July 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Citation|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=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |date=10 July 2006 |access-date=10 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120144909/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1682824.htm |archive-date=20 November 2008 }}</ref> Citing strong party room support for him as leader, Howard stated later that month that he would remain to contest the 2007 election.<ref name="howards_decision_welcomed">{{Citation|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1701315.htm |title=PM's decision to face electorate welcomed |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] |date=31 July 2006 |access-date=31 July 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511192611/http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200607/s1701315.htm |archive-date=11 May 2011 }}</ref> Six weeks before the election, Howard indicated he would stand down during the next term, and anointed Costello as his successor.<ref name='ABC20070912_HowardOnLeadership'>{{Citation | last = O'Brien | first = Kerry |author-link=Kerry O'Brien (journalist) | title = John Howard on the latest round of leadership turmoil | work = [[The 7.30 Report]] | publisher = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] | access-date = 12 September 2007 | date = 12 September 2007 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2031023.htm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071018230427/http://abc.net.au/7.30/content/2007/s2031023.htm | archive-date = 18 October 2007 | url-status = live}}</ref>

The Coalition trailed Labor in opinion polls from mid-2006 onward, but Howard still consistently led Labor leader [[Kim Beazley]] on the question of preferred prime minister.<ref>{{cite video | people = Kassey Dickie | title = The Union Show (04&nbsp;July) | medium = TV-Series | publisher = [[C31 Melbourne]] |year=2006 }}</ref> In December 2006, after [[Kevin Rudd]] became Labor leader, the two-party preferred deficit widened even further and Rudd swiftly overtook Howard as preferred prime minister. Howard chaired [[APEC Australia 2007]], culminating in the [[Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation|APEC]] Economic Leaders Meeting in Sydney during September.<ref name='DPMC_APEC2007'>{{Citation|title =APEC 2007 Taskforce|date=30 June 2006|publisher =[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet]]|url = http://www.pmc.gov.au/about_pmc/divisions/apec2007/|access-date=13 September 2007 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070831055608/http://www.pmc.gov.au/about_pmc/divisions/apec2007/ |archive-date = 31 August 2007}}</ref> The meeting was at times overshadowed by further leadership speculation following continued poor poll results.<ref>{{Citation|title=Leadership talk dogs PM|date=7 September 2007|work=ABC Online|url=http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/07/2026860.htm|access-date=11 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070909150923/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/07/2026860.htm|archive-date=9 September 2007|url-status=live}}</ref>

Leading up to the [[2007 Australian federal election|24 November election]], the Coalition had been behind Labor in the polls for almost two years, a margin that grew even larger after Rudd became opposition leader. In the election, Howard and his government were defeated, suffering a 23-seat swing to Labor, which was almost as large as the 29-seat swing that propelled him to power in 1996. During the election campaign he was targeted by protesters including the John Howard Ladies Auxiliary Fanclub.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sorensen |first=Majken Jul |date=2021-11-03 |title=Humorous Political Stunts: Nonviolent Public Challenges to Power |url=https://commonslibrary.org/humorous-political-stunts-nonviolent-public-challenges-to-power/ |access-date=2022-11-10 |website=The Commons Social Change Library |language=en-AU |archive-date=10 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221110072656/https://commonslibrary.org/humorous-political-stunts-nonviolent-public-challenges-to-power/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Howard lost his seat of Bennelong to former journalist [[Maxine McKew]] with 44,685 votes (51.4 per cent) to Howard's 42,251 (48.6 per cent). The latest redistribution placed Bennelong right on the edge of seats Labor needed to win to make Rudd prime minister. The ABC actually listed Bennelong as a Labor gain on election night.<ref name='ABC2007ElectionBennelong'>{{Citation | title = Bennelong (Key Seat) | publisher = Australian Broadcasting Corporation | date = 25 November 2007 | url = http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/benn.htm | access-date = 25 November 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071124164309/http://www.abc.net.au/elections/federal/2007/guide/benn.htm | archive-date = 24 November 2007 | url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Citation |title=Bennelong too close to call, says McKew |publisher=news.com.au |date=25 November 2007 |url=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,22817877-29277,00.html |access-date=25 November 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309101125/http://www.news.com.au/story/0%2C23599%2C22817877-29277%2C00.html |archive-date= 9 March 2009

Media analysis of The Australian Election Study, a postal survey of 1,873 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 before the election campaign.<ref name="AUS20080524_AustElectionSurvey">{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Mark |date=24 May 2008 |title=What made battlers turn the tide |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |publisher=[[Fairfax Media|Fairfax]] |url=http://www.smh.com.au/text/articles/2008/05/23/1211183103011.html}}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

The Australian and New Zealand cricket boards unsuccessfully nominated Howard as their candidate for president of the [[International Cricket Council]] (ICC).<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/02/2834380.htm |title=Howard put up for ICC presidency |date=2 March 2010 |work=ABC News |location=Australia |access-date=2 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100304023222/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/03/02/2834380.htm |archive-date=4 March 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Howard was the chairman of the [[International Democrat Union]] (IDU), a body of international conservative political parties, between 2002 and 2014,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressrel/XLQ66/upload_binary/xlq661.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22media/pressrel/XLQ66%22 |title=Transcript Of The Prime Minister – The Hon. John Howard MP: Remarks Following Election As Chairman, International Democrat Union – Marriot Hotel, Washington, D.C. |last= |first= |date= |website= |publisher= |access-date= |quote= |archive-date=23 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023112047/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/download/media/pressrel/XLQ66/upload_binary/xlq661.pdf;fileType=application%2Fpdf#search=%22media/pressrel/XLQ66%22 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1411/S00274/key-to-chair-international-democratic-union.htm |title=Key to chair International Democratic Union |last= |first= |date=21 November 2014 |website=scoop.co.nz |publisher=[[Scoop (website)|Scoop Media Limited]] |access-date= |quote= |archive-date=22 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221022222850/https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/PA1411/S00274/key-to-chair-international-democratic-union.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> when he was succeeded by [[John Key]] of [[New Zealand]].<ref>http://www.idu.org/officers.aspx| {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100406032701/http://www.idu.org/officers.aspx |date=6 April 2010 }} Retrieved 11 April 2010</ref> In 2008, he was appointed a director of the foundation established to preserve the legacy of [[Donald Bradman#Later years and legacy|Donald Bradman]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bradman.com.au/directors/ |title=Board of Directors |work=Bradman Foundation |year=2012 |access-date=14 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321074128/http://www.bradman.com.au/directors/ |archive-date=21 March 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref>

* {{Flagicon|AUS}} 26 January 2008: [[Companion of the Order of Australia]] (AC) "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>{{Citation |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1138585 |title=It's an Honour: AC |publisher=Australian Government |date=9 June 2008 |access-date=20 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129181320/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1138585 |archive-date=2129 SeptemberJanuary 20162019 |url-status=live }}</ref>

* {{Flag|Solomon Islands}} 15 June 2005: [[Star of the Solomon Islands]] (SSI)<ref name="solomon_award">{{Citation|url=http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=23419 |title=PM awarded the Star of the Solomon Islands |publisher=Beehive |date=20 June 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929092938/http://www.beehive.govt.nz/ViewDocument.aspx?DocumentID=23419 |archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref><ref>[http://medals.org.uk/solomons/solomons001.htm Medals of the World – Solomon Islands: Star of the Solomon Islands] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051103095301/http://medals.org.uk/solomons/solomons001.htm |date=3 November 2005 }}. Retrieved 20 June 2017.</ref>

* {{Flag|United States}} 5 March 2008: [[Irving Kristol Award]] from the [[American Enterprise Institute]]<ref name=aei>{{Citation |url=http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.27308/pub_detail.asp |title=Australia's John Howard Receives 2008 Irving Kristol Award |publisher=[[American Enterprise Institute|AEI]] |date=3 January 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080115012450/http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.27308/pub_detail.asp |archive-date=15 January 2008}}</ref>

* [[File:Olympic flag.svg|frameless|border|23x23px|link=International Olympic Committee]] 20 November 2003: [[International Olympic Committee|IOC]] Gold [[Olympic Order]]<ref>{{Citation |url=http://corporate.olympics.com.au/the-aoc/inside-the-aoc/australian-olympic-awardees |title=Australian Olympic Awardees: Recipients of the Olympic Order |publisher=[[Australian Olympic Committee]] |access-date=20 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140701141201/http://corporate.olympics.com.au/the-aoc/inside-the-aoc/australian-olympic-awardees |archive-date=1 July 2014 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[{{Cite news |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-11-20/howard-wins-gold-olympic-order/1512080 |title=ABC.net] |newspaper=ABC News |date=20 November 2003 |access-date=2 June 2022 |archive-date=12 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220512112238/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2003-11-20/howard-wins-gold-olympic-order/1512080 |url-status=live }}</ref>

* {{Flag|Israel}} 30 November 2008{{spaced ndash}}present: [[Hebrew University of Jerusalem]], Honorary Doctorate for "outstanding statesmanship and leading role on the world stage in promoting democracy and combating international terrorism" and his "remarkable understanding of, and exceptional support for, the State of Israel and his deep friendship with the Australian Jewish community".<ref name="mumbai-attacks">[http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=6688 Howard: Mumbai attacks a message to Obama] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207075554/http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?pgID=6688 |date=7 December 2008 }}</ref>

*{{Cite journal |last=Ward |first=Ian |date=December 1995 |year=1995 |title=Australian Political Chronicle: January–June 1995 |journal=Australian Journal of Politics and History |volume=41 |issue=3}}

*{{Cite book |title=Lazarus Rising: A Personal and Political Autobiography |last=Howard |first=John |year=2013 |isbn=9780732298876 |edition=Revised |oclc=864696643 |location=Pymble, N.S.W. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/864696643 |publisher=[[HarperCollins]]}}<ref>Reviews: {{bulleted list|{{Cite journal |last=Van Onselen |first=Peter |date=June 2011 |title=Lazarus Rising: A Personal and Political Biography |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10361146.2011.568926 |journal=[[Australian Journal of Political Science]] |language=en |volume=46 |issue=2 |pages=364–365 |doi=10.1080/10361146.2011.568926 |ref=none |issn=1036-1146 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=20 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420095858/https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10361146.2011.568926 |url-status=live }}|{{Cite journal |last=Briggs |first=Jamie |date=January 2011 |title=Howard's way [Book Review] |journal=The Institute of Public Affairs Review: A Quarterly Review of Politics and Public Affairs |volume=63 |ref=none |issue=1 |pages=64–68 |issn=1329-8100}}|{{Cite journal |last=Blainey |first=Geoffrey |author-link=Geoffrey Blainey |date=2010 |title=Quiet lessons for the political beginner - and a clip round the ear for senior players: [Howard, John. Lazarus Rising: A Personal and Political Autobiography (2010). John Howard's autobiography shows he is still slightly surprised by the measure of his success] |journal=[[The Spectator]] |volume=314 |issue=9505 |pages=viii-ix |ref=none |issn=0038-6952}}|{{Cite news |last=Romei |first=Stephen |date=13-14 Aug 2011 |title=Lazarus writing: four years after his political demise, John Howard has risen again as the relaxed and comfortable author of Australia's bestselling political memoir |ref=none |pages=12–15 |work=[[The Australian]] |location=Canberra, A.C.T. |issn=1038-8761}}|{{Cite news |first=Imre |last=Salusinszky |date=2010 |title=Triumph of an ordinary man [Book review of Howard, John. Lazarus Rising (2010)] |volume=5 |ref=none |issue=10 |pages=5–6 |work=[[The Australian]] |location=Canberra, A.C.T. |issn=1038-8761}}}}</ref>

{{s-ttl|title=[[Liberal Party of AustraliaLeader_of_the_Liberal_Party_of_Australia#Liberal federal deputy leadersFederal_deputy_leaders|Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia]]|years=1982–1985}}

[[Category:Australian Leaderspeople of the OppositionIraq War]]

[[Category:Prime Ministersministers of Australia]]