Bid to curb land councils and open Top End to exploration, mining
The Howard government weighed a detailed plan to open the Top End to economic development after cancelling an experiment with Indigenous self-government.
Cabinet Papers
Treasury slammed big-spending climate policy
Treasury warned Howard government ministers not to pursue climate policies that relied heavily on regulations, grants and subsidies rather than the market.
Howard and Costello pushed to increase housing supply
The Howard government planned to combat unaffordable housing in 2004 after the number of first-home buyers fell to ‘historical lows’ in the first half of 2003.
Same-sex marriage anathema to Howard
John Howard’s cabinet pondered banning gay couples from adopting foreign children by legislating against overseas same-sex unions, newly released documents show.
Our capital cities not ready for 9/11-style terror attack
Almost three years after the 9/11 attacks, Australia was still unprepared for a suicide plane attack in its major cities and officials warned of a possible 30-second-only warning in Sydney.
Abbott resisted states’ emergency rooms push
The Howard government faced a decline in GP clinics providing after-hours services, a huge overpayment from the Family Tax Benefit and a suite of disability reforms.
Coalition spent $2.2bn on funding for elderly
From a rapidly ageing population to rampant inefficiency, the Howard government faced no shortage of crippling issues in the aged-care industry of 2004.
Minister thought Iraq could be free-market model
Staying the course in Iraq was seen as showing commitment to the US alliance, with the potential for the country to become a ‘model’ for the region, former defence minister Robert Hill wrote to John Howard.
Rush to lift embassy security after Jakarta blast
A suicide bomber drove a delivery van loaded with a bomb to outside the Australian embassy, where it exploded, injuring 150 people and killing almost a dozen people.
How a ‘rattled’ Howard stared down his party and reformed super
Politicians’ generous super entitlements became a battleground issue in 2004, as Labor leader Mark Latham revitalised the opposition and rivalled Bob Hawke for popularity in opinion polls.
Costello delivered for the future
Peter Costello reveals Treasury opposed the creation of the Future Fund, which is now worth $230bn.
Government blocks access to top secret Iraq docos
Access to records of high-level briefings about Australia joining the 2003 invasion of Iraq in cabinet’s NSC have been blocked.
Coalition doubled down on Defence
With the nation still reeling and divided over its role in the US-led invasion of Iraq, the Howard government worked to bolster Defence funding.
Modest reforms despite a surplus
John Howard did not let a surplus deter him from budget discipline in 2003.
‘When I’m 64’: the great Beatles backflip
John Howard’s 64th birthday was time for reflection and he decided to stay in the nation’s top job.
How ministers were overruled on emissions trading scheme
Why John Howard rejected a proposal from senior ministers to adopt a market mechanism to decarbonise the economy.
I’d make same decision today: Howard
Newly released records reveal there was no written submission to cabinet on the pros and cons of going to war to disarm Saddam Hussein
Offshore solution comes at a cost
When building an immigration detention centre on Christmas Island proved too ambitious, the government spent millions to keep offshore processing in Nauru and Papua New Guinea.
Chinese demands and US pressure tested government resolve
The US raised concerns in early 2003 about organisations like AWB Ltd, which was later found to have contravened UN sanctions and provided money to Saddam Hussein’s regime.
Shifting priorities in Indigenous affairs
The Howard government co-opted state and territory governments into a national Indigenous health strategy for the first time in 2003.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/topics/cabinet-papers