Category: John Howard

Harkening Back to the Era of Former Australian PM John Howard

Commentary In June 1998, the Howard government looked to be in serious trouble. Notwithstanding having brought the budget back to surplus in just two years, introducing serious industrial relations reform, taking on the militant Maritime Union of Australia, it looked, for all intents and purposes, as if Howard would be only the second prime minister…


Harkening Back to the Era of John Howard

Commentary In June 1998, the Howard government looked to be in serious trouble. Notwithstanding having brought the budget back to surplus in just two years, introducing serious industrial relations reform, taking on the militant Maritime Union of Australia, it looked, for all intents and purposes, as if Howard would be only the second prime minister…


‘No Reason’ to Withdraw From Afghanistan Immediately: Former Australian PM

Former Prime Minister John Howard—who deployed Australian troops to Afghanistan in 2001 along with democratic allies—has questioned the need for the U.S. administration to withdraw all forces from the country immediately. “There was no reason why a very much smaller force could not have been left there for an indeterminant time,” he told Sky News…


Australia Has ‘Moral Obligation’ to Assist Afghan Interpreters: Former PM

Former Prime Minister John Howard has spoken out on the need to fast-track visas for Afghan workers who assisted U.S. and allied forces during the Afghanistan War. He made the comments amid growing concerns that thousands of Afghans will face violent retaliation from the Taliban, who are now advancing across the war-torn country. “Where it…


Beijing ‘Using Australia as a Proxy Punching Bag’ for the US: Former PM

Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard told Sky News, Beijing is “using Australia as a proxy punching bag” for the United States. As one of Australia’s longest-serving prime ministers, Howard made efforts to deepen the nation’s relationship with China. But since leaving office in 2007, he has perceived Beijing to become more “aggressive,” resulting in…