What important events happened to john howard while he was the prime minister?

Answer 1

Main achievements (1996 to 2007)

 Strong economic growth, low inflation and interest rates, lowest unemployment in 30 years, creation of around two million new jobs, and wage increases.

 Introduced gun control with a federally-funded buy-back scheme in 1996.

 Goods and Services consumption tax (GST) July 2000. GST revenue of around $40 billion per annum granted to the States and Territories.

 Reform of industrial relations system. Replacement of award wages with direct employer-employee enterprise agreements. Introduction of WorkChoices 2006.

 Gradual privatisation of Telstra, with initial billion dollar proceeds going to environmental funding.

 Introduced principle of mutual obligation to social policy.

 Committed Australian troops to international coalitions led by the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq as part of the ‘War on Terror’. Took a leading role in United Nations peace enforcement in East Timor which enabled the independent democratic state of East Timor to be proclaimed in 2002.

 Adopted an ‘Asia-plus’ diplomacy, focusing on relations with Australia’s Asian neighbours while maintaining and developing traditional links with Britain and other Commonwealth nations and the United States.

 Record health funding of $47.6 billion in 2006-07.

 Increased family assistance payments from $14 billion in 1996-97 to nearly $27 billion in 2005-06. Increased funding for state schools and higher education and vocational and technical training.

 Program to extend broadband internet and mobile phone connections to regional and rural areas.