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'''John Winston Howard''' is the current Prime Minister of [[Australia]], and leader of the ''[[Liberal Party of Australia]]''. He has been Prime Minister since the Liberal Party won a majority in the [[Australia#System_of_Government|House of Representatives]] at the general election in 1996 (in coalition with the smaller National Party), succeeding [[Paul Keating]].

'''John Winston Howard''' is the [[Prime Minister]] of [[Australia]], and leader of the ''[[Liberal Party of Australia]]''. He has been Prime Minister since the Liberal Party won a majority in the [[Australia#System_of_Government|House of Representatives]] at the general election in 1996 (in coalition with the smaller National Party), succeeding [[Paul Keating]].

John Howard married Janette Parker in 1971, and they have a daughter and two sons.

John Howard married Janette Parker in 1971, and they have a daughter and two sons.

== Political life ==

== Political life ==

Howard had been a parliamentarian for 22 years before becoming the Prime Minister, and for 21 of those years he was on the ministerial benches, including roles as Treasurer and Opposition Leader.

Howard had been a parliamentarian for 22 years before becoming the Prime Minister, and for 21 of those years he was on the front bench, including roles as Treasurer and Opposition Leader.

During his term as Prime Minister, he has tightened [[gun control|controls on firearms]], begun privatisation of the national communications provider, [[Telstra]], introduced a 10% [[Goods and services tax]] to replace various other taxes, and brought in new industrial relations laws that alter some protections for employees in small businesses.  Although opposed to the idea, he also introduced a [[referendum]] on Australia becoming a [[republic]], which was defeated.

During his term as Prime Minister, he has begun privatisation of the national communications provider, [[Telstra]], introduced a 10% [[Goods and services tax]] to replace various other taxes, and brought in new industrial relations laws that alter some protections for employees, particularly those in small businesses.  He has also tightened [[gun control|controls on firearms]], with widespread public support.  Although opposed to the idea, he also introduced a [[referendum]] on Australia becoming a [[republic]], which was defeated.

Howard has been very supportive of the war in [[Iraq]], and Australia has been a steadfast supporter of the [[coalition of the willing]], although this has also brought much opposition against him from the liberal media, many of whom supported the war in the first place.

Howard has been very supportive of the war in [[Iraq]], and the Australian government has been a steadfast supporter of the [[coalition of the willing]], although this has also brought much opposition against him from the public and from the liberal media, many of whom supported the war in the first place.

==Recent political controversies==

==Recent political controversies==

The resignation of Santo Santoro as Minister of Ageing following his public admission to share trading in breach of Howard's Ministerial Code of Conduct has resulted in adverse publicity to Howard. The week prior to the resignation Howard had publicly supported the former Minister when he had admitted to one breach of the code. Santoro admitted a week later that he had committed a further 72 breaches which resulted in the withdrawal of support from the Prime Minister. Bob Quinn, the former leader of the opposition in the Queensland State Parliament is the current front-runner for the Senate seat vacated by the sudden resignation of Mr Santoro.  

The prosecution of [[David Hicks]] at Guantanamo Bay continues to be a political issue for Howard.

 

Other controversies in mid 2007 centred around such issues as the Federal Government's desire to take control of what was originally state rights to decide upon water usage in the Murray-Darling River System, the taking over of direct funding of a state hospital in Tasmania, and stepping in to alleviate problems in some aboriginal communities.

The prosecution of [[David Hicks]] at Guantanamo Bay continues to be a political issue for Howard.  

The arrest and eventual charging of Dr Haneef on suspicion of consorting with terrorists led to the eventual dropping of charges, allowing Dr Haneef to return to his native India.  Questions remained regarding the government's handling of the case, and it has been reported in September that applications from overseas doctors seeking to work in Australia have fallen 80% in the months since the incident [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/21/2040431.htm].

Other controversies in mid 2007 centred around such issues as the Federal Government's desire to take control of what was originally state rights to decide upon water usage in the Murray-Darling River System, the taking over of direct funding of a state hospital in Tasmania, and stepping in to alleviate problems in some aboriginal communities.  The arrest and eventual charging of Dr Haneef on suspicion of consorting with terrorists led to the eventual dropping of charges, allowing Dr Haneef to return to his native India.  Questions remained regarding the governments handling of the case, and it has been reported in September that applications from overseas doctors seeking to work in Australia have fallen 80% in the months since the incident [http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/09/21/2040431.htm].

John Howard hosted the 2007 [[APEC]] meeting in [[Sydney]]. The security measures that were taken were criticised domestically, and included a 3 mile security fence in Sydney's Central Business District, and a call for Sydneysiders to leave the city over the APEC weekend.

The recent decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise interest rates has also caused problems for Howard, who has been under fire for advertisements in which he featured in 2004, where it was claimed that his government would keep interest rates at "record lows". He has since attempted to disown the advertisements.

The recent decision by the Reserve Bank of Australia to raise interest rates has also caused problems for Howard, who has been under fire for advertisements in which he featured in 2004, where it was claimed that his government would keep interest rates at "record lows". He has since attempted to disown the advertisements.

The popularity of Howard has been at an all-time low since the opposition has been headed by [[Kevin Rudd]] although it seems as 2007 progresses this gap in the polls has lessened slightly.

The popularity of Howard has been at an all-time low since the opposition has been headed by [[Kevin Rudd]]. The gap in the polls has lessened slightly during the second half of 2007, although the ALP still enjoys a winning lead.

 

== Future ==

== Future ==

Howard has pledged to resign during his next term if he is re-elected at the federal election to be held on 24 November.

Howard will attempt to win a fifth term in office at the federal election to be held on 24 November.  He has pledged to resign mid-way through his next term if he is re-elected, and hand over office to current Treasurer [[Peter Costello]].  In practice, the choice of successor would be made by a vote of all the Liberal Party's MPs.  As well as facing a tough fight against the ALP to retain government, Howard is also under pressure in his own parliamentary seat where former [[ABC]] journalist Maxine McKew is standing against him on behalf of the ALP.  If he loses his seat he will forfeit the Prime Minstership regardless of the result of the election as a whole.  

== Sources ==

== Sources ==