Telco in hot water on GST ahead of sell-off
The competition watchdog was raising issues with Telstra’s planned application of the GST less than a month before the tax was due to start.
Cabinet Papers
Howard’s sway on jobs entity
John Howard opposed the closure in February 2000 of the loss-making Employment National because it could be seen as a cut to services in the bush.
Indigenous bridge too far for some ministers
The Howard cabinet was divided over whether ministers should join the walk for reconciliation over the Sydney Harbour Bridge in May 2000.
Daylight saving too hard for Goss
In the first year of his government in 1990, Queensland’s first Labor premier in more than 30 years made a bold prediction.
Biggest tax reform in our history
Peter Costello believes the Howard Cabinet would not have introduced the GST in its third or fourth terms because it lacked courage for bold reforms.
Kerosene bath reports led to clean-up action
The Howard government agreed to amend the Aged Care Act in August 2000 following reports of elderly residents at a Melbourne nursing home being bathed in kerosene.
High costs forced sidelining of rail and air projects
A second Sydney airport and a fast train between the NSW capital and Canberra were respectively delayed and scrapped altogether by the Howard cabinet in 2000.
Polling drove mutual obligations agenda
Internal government polling presented to cabinet in August 2000 revealed overwhelming public support for its plan to extend mutual obligation requirements beyond the young jobless.
‘Debt necessary but a burden on future generations’
John Howard, John Anderson and Peter Costello urge the Morrison government to aim for future budget surpluses.
Early green shoots in emissions trading war
John Howard’s cabinet agreed at the turn of the millennium to look at ways industry could obtain credits for early greenhouse gas abatement as insurance against a possible ETS.
Regional accords high on economic wish-list
John Howard’s cabinet took key decisions to ramp up its pursuit of free-trade agreements in 2000, singling out the US and the ASEAN grouping as key markets.
Coal-fired plants got tick despite warning
The Howard government’s commitment to an emissions trading scheme facilitated the go-ahead for two major coal-fired projects.
Transfer of power that never happened
In 2000, Peter Costello still hoped that John Howard would honour an agreement to step aside from the prime ministership and facilitate a leadership transition.
Howard quick to protect Don’s name
John Howard’s cabinet agreed to prohibit the exploitation of Don Bradman’s name for commercial gain after the PM was approached by the Don’s family.
Huge operation to stop Olympics attack
The Howard government prepared for a terrorist attack on the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games.
Downer sought way to withdraw Timor force
In August 2000, as the first anniversary of the Australian troop presence in East Timor loomed, the Howard cabinet needed to come up with an exit strategy.
$3.2m to highlight neglect of history
In the lead-up to the centenary of Federation on January 1, 2001, the Howard government funded an advertising campaign that embarrassed Australians.
Origins of offshore detention laid bare
The Howard government was confronted with a growing number of frustrated asylum-seekers in immigration detention in the year 2000.
GST experience shows way for tax reform
The release of cabinet papers from the late 1990s offers lessons for today’s policymakers.
Waterfront dispute a striking omission
There is no mention of Chris Corrigan’s 1998 assault on wharfies in the newly released documents.
Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/topics/cabinet-papers/page/3