The Howard Years— Change the Government, Change the Country

Overview

The Howard Years was a documentary series about the prime ministership of John Howard produced by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. It was divided into four one-hour episodes - one episode for each term Howard served as Prime Minister of Australia - and originally broadcast on ABC1 from 17 November to 8 December 2008.

Documentary War & Politics

Current EpisodeSeason 1 • Episode 1Aired: 2008-11-17

1. Change the Government, Change the Country

Since regaining the leadership in 1995, Howard has re-created "a convincing consensual language" for the party beyond the narrow economic individualism in which it had become trapped by the 1980s. Particularly interesting is Brett's analysis of Howard's appropriation of core elements of national identity mythology once the preserve of Labor. Howard's first term of government (1996-1998). Key themes: Port Arthur; Pauline Hanson; Aboriginal reconciliation and native title; waterfront reform and the decision to introduce the GST.