“above and beyond that of a priest”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.theguardian.com
Figure timeline
John Howard
John Winston Howard is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the second-longest in Australian history, after that of Robert Menzies.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
politics · Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007 · politician · autobiographer · lawyer · solicitor · historian · also John Howard, John Winston Howard, The Honourable John Howard, Howard
Born 26 July 1939 · Q51330
71 published statements · 0 followers
See & hear
Photos & media
12 photos · 1 audio
Listen
John Howard Voice
Media from Wikimedia Commons, hotlinked at the source under its own licence — see each file for author and terms.
Live now
In the news
Pulling headlines from trusted outlets — this usually takes a few seconds
Checking the wires…
Feed scan
These are live links, not archived citations — they only join the timeline once a collect run verifies and archives them.
Live pulse
Recent highlights
Most recent outstanding titles, awards, and quotes
- Quote
- Quote
2026· 22 entries
“a degree of callous indifference in relation to those objections”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.theguardian.com
- #corroborated
“It must be clear to you by now I’m struggling with that submission. Looking at your points here – so what?”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.theguardian.com
- #corroborated
“Nothing is to be gained here by comparing different forms of sexual abuse of children. Of course I need to make a judgement of the overall gravity of this. But there is a limit to these kinds of comparisons.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #www.theguardian.com
- #corroborated
“Lazarus with a triple bypass.”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #archives.gov
“The world will not be safe. People will live in perpetual fear,”
- #wikipedia
- #quote
- #trusted-source
- #bbc.co.uk
- #corroborated
“repugnant to the ideals of One Australia”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
Legacy obituary: John Howard Wilfong Obituary (2026) - Lakewood, WA - Edwards Memorial Funeral Homes - Lakewood
- #news
- #headline
Legacy obituary: John Howard McCulley Obituary (2026) - Royal Oak, MI - Edward Korkoian Funeral Home -Spiller-Spitler Chapel
- #news
- #headline
Legacy obituary: John Howard Cox Obituary (2026) - Hinesville, GA - Brannen Family Funeral Services Glennville Chapel
- #news
- #headline
Parksville Qualicum News: David John Howard Kelsey
- #news
- #headline
Legacy obituary: John Howard Ellis Obituary (2026) - Lake Tenkiller, OK - Agent Mallory Martin Funeral Service, Inc. - Sallisaw
- #news
- #headline
The Press Democrat: John Howard Doble
- #news
- #headline
SMH.com.au: John Howard neutralised Pauline Hanson 30 years ago. What’s changed since then?
- #news
- #headline
Legacy obituary: John Howard Maedel Obituary (2026) - Farragut, TN - Click Funeral Home - Farragut Chapel
- #news
- #headline
Legacy obituary: Mr. John Howard Smith Obituary (1935 - 2026) - Alexander City, AL - WCOV-TV
- #news
- #headline
Legacy obituary: Mr. John Howard Smith Obituary (2026) - Alexander City, AL - Radney Funeral Home - Alexander City
- #news
- #headline
streamlinefeed.co.ke: John Howard Hands Australia a Gambling Reform Script
- #news
- #headline
Legacy obituary: John Howard Grenawalt Obituary (2026) - Bronx, NY - Riverdale-On-Hudson Funeral Home Inc
- #news
- #headline
Tribute Archive: John Howard Maedel Obituary | Click Funeral Home | Knoxville, TN
- #news
- #headline
Tribute Archive: John Howard Pierucki Obituary | A Simple Service Burial and Cremation | Lancaster, SC
- #news
- #headline
The Guardian: ‘Like if John Sayles directed Forrest Gump’: the incredible life of historian Howard Zinn
- #news
- #headline
2025· 1 entry
Reported claimRated False. The quotes have been fabricated by pages that routinely post disinformation. · AAP
AAP rated the claim “John Howard accused Anthony Albanese of "betraying Australia" in a live broadcast with the prime minister following the Bondi Beach shooting.” False. The quotes have been fabricated by pages that routinely post disinformation..
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
2023· 1 entry
“the luckiest thing that happened to this country was being colonised by the British. Not that they were perfect by any means, but they were infinitely more successful and beneficent colonisers than other European countries”
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #quote
2022· 1 entry
ABC News rated the claim “"... when we compare the Howard years with the Rudd-Gillard years, both — all governments spent 1.7 per cent to 1.8 per cent of GDP [on defence] on average."” Fair call.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
2021· 1 entry
ABC News rated the claim “"[The unemployment benefit] is commensurate with where it sat during the period of the Howard government."” Exaggerated.
Shown as reported and rated by a fact checker, not as an established fact.
- #fact-check
- #rated
- #claim-about-figure
2017· 1 entry
Howard endorsed a "No" vote in the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey and joined the campaign against same-sex marriage
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2014· 1 entry
Which aired as a featured story on Seven Network's Sunday Night, and again in January 2015 as its own five-part series on Sky News Australia entitled Howard Defined
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2011· 1 entry
Awarded Order of Merit (2011).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
2009· 1 entry
Won Presidential Medal of Freedom presented by George W. Bush (2009).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
2008· 3 entries
Awarded Irving Kristol Award (2008).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Awarded Companion of the Order of Australia (2008).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #award
- #achievement
Was appointed a director of the foundation established to preserve the legacy of Donald Bradman
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2007· 2 entries
Election lost: 2007 election.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #election
- #lost
Campaign: 2007 election.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #election
- #campaign
2006· 2 entries
Ian McLachlan and Peter Costello said that under a 1994 deal between Howard and Costello, Howard would serve one and a half terms as prime minister if the Coalition won the next election before stepping aside to allow Co
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
With the government now controlling both houses of parliament for the first time since the Fraser era, industrial relations changes were enacted
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2002· 1 entry
As prime minister), Howard recanted his 1988 remarks on curbing Asian immigration
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
2001· 1 entry
Won Centenary Medal (2001).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #trophy
- #achievement
2000· 1 entry
“By the year 2000 I would like to see an Australian nation that feels comfortable and relaxed about three things. I would like to see them comfortable and relaxed about their history. I would like to see them comfortable and relaxed about the present and I'd also like to see them comfortable and relaxed about the future.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #lang:en
1999· 1 entry
Howard negotiated a "Motion of Reconciliation" with Aboriginal Senator Aden Ridgeway
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1998· 2 entries
Career landmark: Delegate to the Australian Constitutional Convention, 1998 (1998–1998).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Howard convened a constitutional convention which decided in principle that Australia should become a republic
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1996· 2 entries
The Howard government moved swiftly to legislate limitations on its possible implications through the so-called Ten-Point Plan
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Prime Minister of Australia (1996–2007).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1995· 2 entries
Replacing Alexander Downer, and subsequently led the Coalition to a landslide victory at the 1996 federal election
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Leader of the Opposition of Australia (1995–1996).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1994· 1 entry
Was again passed over for the leadership, which went to Alexander Downer
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1993· 1 entry
But did not resign to block Howard from succeeding him
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1989· 1 entry
Public opinion moved away from Labor, however there was no firm opinion poll lead for Howard or the Coalition
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1985· 4 entries
As Labor's position in opinion polls improved, Peacock's popularity sank and Howard's profile rose
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Howard was elected leader of the Liberal Party for the first time, thus replacing Andrew Peacock as Leader of the Opposition
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Leader of the Opposition of Australia (1985–1989).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
And 1986 and Howard's approval ratings dropped in the face of infighting between Howard and Peacock supporters, a "public manifestation of disunity" over policy positions, and questions over Howard's leadership
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1981· 1 entry
Howard proposed a broad-based indirect tax with compensatory cuts in personal rates; however, cabinet rejected it citing both inflationary and political reasons
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1979· 4 entries
“I don't think it is wrong, racist, immoral or anything, for a country to say 'we will decide what the cultural identity and the cultural destiny of this country will be and nobody else.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
“I've never believed in lower wages. Never. Never believed in lower wages, I've never believed in lower wages as an economic instrument.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
“I accept that climate change is a challenge, I accept the broad theory about global warming. I am sceptical about a lot of the more gloomy predictions.”
- #wikiquote
- #saying
- #undated
- #lang:en
Career landmark: Minister for Finance (Australia) (1979–1979).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1978· 1 entry
The Fraser government instigated the Campbell Committee to investigate financial system reforms
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1977· 3 entries
And later in the year replaced Phillip Lynch as treasurer of Australia, remaining in that position until the defeat of Malcolm Fraser's government at the 1983 election
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
Career landmark: Minister for Special Trade Negotiations of Australia (1977–1977).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
Career landmark: Treasurer of Australia (1977–1983).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1974· 1 entry
Career landmark: member of the Australian House of Representatives (1974–2007).
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #milestone
1971· 1 entry
With whom he had three children: Melanie (1974), Tim (1977) and Richard (1980)
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1967· 1 entry
With the support of party power brokers John Carrick and Eric Willis, Howard was endorsed as candidate for the marginal suburban state seat of Drummoyne, held by Labor's Reg Coady
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1965· 1 entry
Began working for Clayton Utz, but "lacked the university grades and the social connections to be on track for a partnership"
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1964· 1 entry
Took a trip around the world, visiting Britain, Europe, Israel, India, and Singapore
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1955· 1 entry
When Howard was aged 16, his father died, leaving his mother to take care of him
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikipedia
- #event
1946· 1 entry
Awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry — for their preparation of enzymes and virus proteins in a pure form.
- #nobel
- #award
- #honour
1939· 1 entry
Born 1939-07-26.
Text from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- #wikidata
- #birth