The Howard Years

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.

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.

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.