"The Howard Years" - Insightful

I did a post recently about the current ABC TV series "The Howard Years"

Have I told you that I am really enjoying it?!

It has been described as "Candid, Confessional, Controversial."

As each edition unfolds I can't believe how much I have forgotten since 1996.

There is a great timeline on the ABC website.

You can even download a PDF chronology of The Howard Years here.

I'll be setting the HDD recorder again for part 3 - next Monday 8.30pm.

Candid, Confessional, Controversial

Here is a sample:

First Howard Term 1996 - 1998

1996

2 March 1996 – John Howard becomes Australia‟s 25th Prime Minister Under the theme of “For All of Us”, John Howard becomes Australia‟s 25th Prime Minister, taking charge of the 54th ministry since Federation with a 45 seat majority. It‟s the biggest mandate since Malcolm Fraser‟s 1977 victory; 2 party preferred swing of 5.1 per cent. The ALP loses 31 seats, the Liberal Party gains 27, the National Party two and the Independents three (including Pauline Hanson, dis-endorsed Liberal candidate and new Independent MP for Oxley, Queensland).

8 March 1996 – John Howard reduces the ministry from 31 to 28 John Howard reduces the ministry from 31 to 28 and dismisses six departmental heads.

11 March 1996 – John Howard restores the Queen to the oath of allegiance Howard restores the Queen to the oath of allegiance and the Australian flag to his official car.

12 March 1996 – Budget deficit of $9 billion New Treasurer, Peter Costello, releases revised figures showing an underlying budget deficit of $9 billion. Dubbing it the “Beazley black hole”, Peter Costello announces the government will have to implement cuts of $8 billion over two years, in order to balance the budget by the third year. Grinding Expenditure Review Committee (ERC) meetings ensue, to determine the size and areas the cuts will take.