TV Show0%

The Howard Years

DocumentaryWar & Politics

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.

Nov 17, 20081 seasons4 episodesEndedEN

Start Watching

Cast spotlight

Jump into full cast pages for bio, socials, and recent work.

Fran Kelly

Narrator & Interviewer

View profile

John Howard

Self

View profile

Seasons

Season 1

4 episodes

Premiered Nov 17, 2008

Episodes

1–4 of 4

No preview

Ep 1

Change the Government, Change the Country

Nov 17, 2008

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.

No preview

Ep 2

Whatever It Takes

Nov 24, 2008

John Howard entered his second term determined to secure his 20-year vision of tax reform. But in his victory speech, the seeds of discontent with his Treasurer were sown and would continue to grow. John Howard demonstrated his acute political antenna by responding to his Government's increasing unpopularity and dramatically changed economic policy to win back disgruntled voters.Then controversy erupted over the Tampa incident and the Pacific solution was born.

No preview

Ep 3

Commander-in-Chief

Dec 1, 2008

In a bizarre twist of fate, John Howard would find himself in Washington DC on the day the world changed forever. Encompassing both the 2001 and 2004 elections, episode three shows the PM at the height of his powers.

No preview

Ep 4

Walking On Water

Dec 8, 2008

John Howard’s Prime Ministership ended with defeat at the 2007 election. But why was it so, and could the result have been different with a change of leadership? Speaking candidly, John Howard reveals his intentions after the 2004 election, and why he never stood down from the leadership.