Howard, John Winston (1939– )

Australian politician, prime minister 1996–2007. Firmly on the conservative wing of the Liberal party, after entering the federal parliament in 1974, Howard served in the governments of Malcolm Fraser 1975–83, and then held senior opposition posts. He has the unusual distinction of being leader of his party on two separate occasions.

Howard won the party leadership from Andrew Peacock 1985 then, following the general election defeat 1987, lost it to Peacock. He tried to regain it in 1993 but was beaten by John Hewson who, in turn, was replaced by Andrew Downer in 1994. Howard chose not to contest the party leadership again when Downer resigned in January 1995, but was elected unopposed at a party caucus meeting. Generally regarded as a ‘safe pair of hands’, his elevation to prime minister in February 1996 presented the country with a stark contrast to his predecessor, the abrasive leader of the Labor party, Paul Keating, and took Australia into a quieter, less combative, period of politics. He was re-elected in November 2001, with 70% of the vote.

Educated a Sydney University, where he studied law, Howard became a partner in a prominent firm of Sydney solicitors before embarking on a full-time political career.