Looking back on the history of Howard's terms of government, we look back on a trail of tears and deception. From the outset, his earliest decision was illegal, but it was overlooked because it was in response to the Port Arthur Massacre.
He overrode state authority to rule out the possibility of a major inquiry, which is mandated in such events by state and federal law, and followed up with the strict gun laws we have today. Whether we agree that it was the right decision on guns in society is not the point. The point is that Port Arthur was his first baby step as prime minister, and it set the tone of his leadership.
His policy regarding marginalised people has seen a lot of backlash from humanitarian groups like the United Nations. When his last term, pre-election lie about 'children overboard' was realised by the Australian public, it was enough to gain the scorn of the most apathetic voters, although unfortunately postpartum. Furthermore, asylum seekers found Australia was just a prison by another name, when left to rot in detention centres. Of course, men, women, and children alike shared those cells.
But his backward policies were not just for migrants. The discrimination rippled out in many directions.
His policies are forcing women out of full-time work and back into the dutiful role of the modern '50's woman. A recent slap in the face was Howard's proposal to amend the sex discrimination act in favour of luring men into teaching. If men wanted to work in lower waged jobs with less benefits, doesn't he realize they would already be doing it?
Why isn't he suggesting the reverse that is, setting up women into male dominated careers like IT, science, medicine, dare I say it, politics? The liberals boast a proud 17.6% females in their midst. Is Amanda Vanstone to Howard as Himmler was to Hitler? It is worthy to note that the Labour Party has 38.6% percent female representatives, the second highest opposed to the Greens.
It becomes harder for mothers to get full-time work without easy access to child-care (yes, due to Howard's tampering). Baby bonus incentives are just an insult; paid maternity leave is much too much to consider. Women in Australia are still severely overrepresented in casual or part-time work, which doesn't include the perks of full time.
http://www.wel.org.au/inkwel/ink0201/msawer.htm
His racist policies towards our indigenous population have seen the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) trivialised. They have been losing the sympathy of non-indigenous people. This is rich. Consider the stark facts. These people are losing, as shown by their declining quality of life.
Life expectancy is 20 years shorter that the non-indigenous Australians
Infant mortality is 3 times higher
Unemployment is 23% compared to 7.5% of non-indigenous Australians
31% indigenous Australians finish secondary school (Thats only up to grade 10) as opposed to 70% of the non-indigenous Australians.
ATSIC, their only self-determinist agency, was abolished to silence the indigenous voice in Australia, and trials by media have surrounded some of the Commissions leadership. http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1088994.htm
They also are highly misrepresented in prison, with deaths in custody, as was highlighted by the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody.
Oh, and let's not forget that he wouldn't say he was sorry for the Stolen Generation although, if we believe Howard, we would believe there wasn't one. He spent more money defending the government in court against claims than he did on the victims.
Howard has also tampered with Australia's Medicare system (government supported medical insurance) the very thing workers are sensitive about because they traded wage increases to protect it. Howard stated in 1987, as leader of the opposition, he intended to pull it right apart. Now, in 2004, we can see what he meant. What was once a universal health care system has now been boiled down to a flimsy excuse of a safety net for the poor. The general trend has been to try to force workers into private health insurance.
http://workers.labor.net.au/features/200305/b_tradeunion_medicare.html
And what has our "Honest John" done for education in Australia? He has given to the rich at the expense of the poor. Of course, that includes most of Australia, now that 60% of Australians are living under the poverty line. Higher education becomes increasingly harder to access.
HECS is now 25% more expensive, and a larger number of placements will be given to those who can pay for a place, rather than earn a place though merit.
The GST that Howard said he wouldn't introduce without a referendum is now in place, and now we can watch half of our income get vampirised back into the beating heart of the Australian government. Tax reductions of this kind only benefit the rich, and now even those in the middle class begin to feel the hurt.
Young, professional couples are now facing the choice between workforce and children - if they intend to buy a house in the next ten years, that is.
And so, where is all the money been going that Howard has reaped right under the public's nose? The unpopular War on Terror, of course! This puts us in a tenuous position with the terrorist organisations that we are trying to avoid. There is $43 Million (Middleton) spend per day, and he is trying to give more away on the war effort without causing too much of a stir, specifically to the US for Star Wars, which won't do a lot for Australia, but more US bases on Australian soil. http://www.cpa.org.au/garchve03/g1150.html
The Howard government policies on anti-terrorism are nothing short of terrifying nothing short of what might easily become a witch hunt. Forty-eight hour detention without rights to lawyers, longer prison sentences for less crime - you dont have to be a terrorist, or even an adult to face indefinite jail time. The right to silence would be removed, any organisation could be targeted and all people involved jailed, and possession of a 'thing' connected to terrorism could get you jail time as well we don't even know what those "things" might be. Howard is using fear to try and get these very dangerous policies past the people. Coupled with his very strict gun laws, do you feel safe?
http://theage.com.au/articles/2002/05/01/1019441390136.html
This doesn't begin to scratch the surface of how Howard has changed the face of Australia, especially the lifestyle of the people and how we are perceived worldwide. I am hard pressed to remember if there are any promises "Honest John" hasn't broken, or lies he hasn't told, or minority groups he hasn't offended. I don't envy Latham's position that if he moves into the hot seat next - there are a lot of wrongs to be set right.
I sincerely hope Latham does win. What kind of country will we have this time in the next election, if Howard's reign of terror continues?
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