The signature phrase of John Howard’s 11½ years as prime minister was “the times will suit me”. He was referring to a mid-80s Margaret Thatcher-Ronald Reagan era of deregulation, privatisation and lower income taxes.
Howard in fact made the comment during a dinner conversation in Washington a decade before he became prime minister. It was also before he lost the Liberal Party leadership, only to regain it after five years in the wilderness.
Loading...
Andrew Clark is a former editor of The Sun-Herald and Australian Business. He was a correspondent in Europe and North America, a political correspondent in Canberra and has been a journalist for more than 55 years. Email Andrew at aclark@afr.com.au
