Third term: 2001.E2.80.932004 Howard Government

1 third term: 2001–2004

1.1 war on terror
1.2 environment
1.3 same-sex relationships
1.4 international affairs
1.5 2004 election

third term: 2001–2004

in howard government s third term, international affairs dominated responses 11 september attacks , australian forces involved in wars in afghanistan , iraq.

in june 2001, john howard selected dr. peter hollingworth (an anglican archbishop, welfare advocate , former australian of year) recommendation post of governor general. queen accepted hollingworth s resignation in may 2003, after labor opposition called resignation following allegations had not adequately investigated church ministers accused of paedophilia while archbishop of brisbane. in june, howard s chosen successor major general michael jeffery became governor-general , remain in post until after howard s 2007 election loss.

in april 2002 changes made australian nationality law allowed australian citizens had acquired country s citizenship keep australian citizenship concurrently.

despite victory in 2001, government did not have senate majority, , ability pass planned legislation restricted.

on 20 september 2003, government abolished mature age allowance welfare program australian citizens aged 55 , on eligible initiated bob hawke government in 1987.

war on terror

memorial dead of 2002 bali bombing, in 88 australians killed.

following 9/11 al qaeda attacks, howard government committed sas troops high-profile part of operation slipper, australia s contribution international coalition invading force in 2001 war in afghanistan. initial adf commitment in afghanistan concluded in november 2002 when special air service task group withdrawn, howard government sent new contingent afghanistan in 2005.

a small number of australians, including david hicks, captured in , around afghan theatre having spent time training or fighting al qaeda aligned islamist paramilitaries. hicks internment @ guantanamo bay became highly controversial issue in latter term of howard government.

islamists following al qaeda modus operandi bombed nightclub in bali in 2002 , killed 88 australian civilians.

two days before attack, issued worldwide warning notice urging tourists bali avoid clubs, bars , restaurants westerners congregate. australian government had received intelligence identifying bali possible target of terrorist attack on western tourists did not change advice australian holidaymakers. howard government did not issue similar warning, though following attack issued travel advisory warning against travel indonesia.

in november 2002, howard government supported un resolution 1441, outlined breaches saddam hussein s iraq of succession of united nations resolutions – among these iraq had refused grant unrestricted access united nations weapons inspectors in decade since gulf war, , series of other breaches relating peace treaty signed @ end gulf war. resolution offered iraq final opportunity comply disarmament obligations in march 2003, australia supported united states/united kingdom coalition in invasion of iraq, on basis still in breach of un resolution 1441 , iraq possessed or pursuing illegal weapons of mass destruction. @ outset of war, howard said that, these reasons our direct , urgent commitment cause of disarming iraq must seen against background of different world in live . said iraq should disarmed because of appalling track record ; because discourage other rogue states pursuing wmd; because lessen risk of wmd falling hands of terrorist groups; , because australia should support american alliance because no nation more important our long-term security of united states . howard told national press club on 13 march:

additionally, howard outlined extensive human rights abuses of iraqi regime had perpetrated against own people, humanitarian cost of ongoing un sanctions regime against iraq supporting case war against saddam.

australia s commitment lasted until 2009. australian opinion divided on war , large public protests against occurred. simon crean led opposition did not dispute intelligence suggesting iraq in breach of un resolutions regarding wmd, came view australia should join war against iraq if un security council called such move. future labor prime minister kevin rudd promoted position of shadow minister foreign affairs following 2001 election , outlined labor s position in september 2002 saying:

there no debate or dispute whether saddam hussein possesses weapons of mass destruction. does. there s no dispute whether s in violation of un security council resolutions. is. argument before sort of action should taken... – kevin rudd, september 2002.

howard secretary of state colin powell in 2003.

several senior figures liberal party, including john valder, former president of liberal party, , howard s former friend , colleague, former opposition leader john hewson , former prime minister malcolm fraser publicly criticised howard on iraq.

the australian greens , australian democrats opposed military action. on 5 february 2003, australian senate presented first vote of no-confidence against serving leader deploying troops persian gulf. unprecedented vote carried no legislative power motion defeated in house of representatives. senior australian intelligence officer andrew wilkie resigned job, citing ethical reasons. wilkie later went on challenge howard in electorate.

ultimately, no advanced wmd programs found in iraq, saddam hussein tried , executed crimes against humanity. labor began accuse government of sending australia war on lie suggesting saddam had wmd. in march 2004, parliamentary inquiry found australia s presentation of case war had been more moderate of britain , united states , committee found there no interference in work of intelligence agencies . in response, howard called public inquiry how australia s intelligence services had misread iraq s wmd capabilities in lead war.

on anzac day 2004, howard made surprise visit australian defence personnel in iraq. came amid bitter debate in australia on war following opposition leader mark latham s promise return australian troops christmas, exposed apparent rift between latham , rudd on subject. howard portrayed latham threat us-australia alliance, contributed fall in latham s popularity.

the opposition, spearheaded kevin rudd, sought link howard government figures bribery , corruption allegations regarding australian wheat board s involvement in un oil-for-food program in iraq in lead iraq war. following un report found widescale breaches awb, 11-month commission of inquiry former judge terence cole corruption of un s oil-for-food programme made public in november 2006. report found no material way suggestive of illegal activity [federal government] or of officers found 11 former awb executives should considered prosecution.

the environment

much of eastern australia subject prolonged period of drought during third , fourth terms of howard government. in june 2004, council of australian governments agreed national water initiative , establishment of seven-member national water commission examine water management issues.

same-sex relationships

in may 2004, , of australian democrats, howard government amended australia s superannuation law allow same-sex couples inherit partners private sector superannuation. announcing may 2004 proposal, howard said:

the changes announcing today provide greater certainty payment of super death benefits involved in interdependency relationships including, of course, members of same sex relationships.

the changes did not extend members in commonwealth superannuation schemes.

on 13 august 2004, senate passed howard government s marriage legislation amendment bill incorporated common law definition of marriage— union of man , woman exclusion of others —into marriage act , family law act.

international affairs

hu jintao became first chinese leader address joint sitting of australian parliament in 2003. australia-china trade underwent considerable expansion during terms of howard government.

australia hosted 2002 commonwealth heads of government meeting (chogm) @ coolum, queensland. following widescale electoral fraud , human rights violations in robert mugabe s zimbabwe, chogm established troika of commonwealth statesmen: chaired john howard , composed of president olusegun obasanjo of nigeria , thabo mbeki of south africa, met in london , agreed zimbabwe should suspended commonwealth. troika met further time in nigeria, little outcome. howard continued lobby within commonwealth further action, faced heated opposition mbeki , other leaders. howard wrote in 2010 biography zimbabwe had been demoralising foreign affairs issue ever faced prime minister.

the howard government signed free trade agreement singapore in february 2003 , in 2004, australia , thailand concluded bilateral free trade agreement.

july 2003 saw howard government dispatch forces regional assistance mission solomon islands (ramsi), following wide scale collapse of law , order in nation. led australia, , participation of regional partners new zealand , papua new guinea, move part of activist regional foreign policy, howard described paradigm shift in australia insisting on reduced corruption, better economic management , improved criminal justice conditions of ongoing aid .

by 2003, trade china had tripled since arrival in office of howard government, , chinese president hu jintao selected australia first international port of call after taking office. howard invited hu become first chinese leader address australian parliament. on successive days in october 2003, first president george w. bush of united states , president hu of china addressed joint sittings of australian parliament. in 2010 memoir lazarus rising, howard wrote through both coincidence , deliberation , no foreign policy events in course of prime ministership came anywhere near symbolism of these 2 days , that, while still judged usa more important partner , intimate friend, believed that:

in 2004, diplomatic relations resumed between australia , north korea.

2004 election


the coalition portrayed opposition leader mark latham s inexperienced during campaign (in australia, yellow l-plates attached cars driven learner drivers).

on 29 august, john howard announced federal election 9 october, telling reporters:

john howard s election launch conducted on 26 september 2004 @ brisbane city hall. launch promised tax breaks small business, funds schools – both government , non-government schools – commitments families, both child care support , stay-at-home parent support; , commitment skills , training though australian technical colleges.

on 7 october, howard told tasmanian timber workers re-elected coalition government preserve 170,000 hectares of tasmanian old-growth forest, while ensuring no job losses . proposed preservation area considerably less labor s promised 240,000 hectares , condemned labor s mark latham, greens , democrats, announcement greeted loud cheers audience of 1500 timber workers in launceston , supported local labor member dick adams , labor aligned construction, forestry, mining , energy union.

the coalition campaign sought portray opposition leader mark latham inexperienced. on final day of election campaign, when latham , howard crossed paths outside radio studio apparently aggressive nature of latham s handshake received wide media coverage.

the 2004 election saw howard government defeat mark latham led labor opposition increased majority. coalition increased majority in house of representatives, liberals winning 74 seats, national party 12 , northern territory country liberal party one. labor won 60 seats , 3 independents elected. in senate coalition won 21 seats labor s 16, australian greens winning 2 , family first party winning 1 seat, leaving government parties majority in senate first time since 1981.