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Howard farewelled: ‘He transformed the nation’

Joel Labi

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8/05/2008 9:21:00 AM.

VIDEO: Don’t take cheek from the other side: Howard’s final pep talk AUDIO: 'We shouldn't get into a blame game': Turnbull defends former government's economic record

Former Prime Minister John Howard has used a farewell dinner to urge the Coalition to claw its way back into power, as quickly as possible.

Around 1,000 people have come out to formally mark the occasion, including Liberal colleagues Brendan Nelson, Malcolm Turnbull and Barry O’Farrell.

During his address, Mr Howard has given his support for Doctor Nelson but has told the party it needs to work together to get out of opposition.

“To those of you who may be feeling a little despondent about the fact that we are in opposition, rage against opposition, work as hard as you can to get out of opposition as soon as you can.”

Doctor Nelson made a number of speeches praising Mr Howard’s work, saying he was a man who transformed the nation.

“This country is a different country today, a more prosperous country, one that is more confident in itself and its place in the world because of what John Howard did as the Prime Minister of Australia over almost 12 years.”

Macquarie National News

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Comments

Saturday, 10 May 2008

I think it was time for Howard to go, but i would've preferred the Libs to win, then Howard retire and Costello take over. Most of the high profile libs such as downer, abbot, turnball etc....were against howard on a lot of things becasue he WAS a little more right wing then they were/are....especially on issues such as the environment, race, gayrights etc.... Howard had to go, not the libs - a large percentage of liberals are NOT right wing racist red necks!

Posted by: Concerned Liberal, Minto

Saturday, 10 May 2008

"He WAS a little more right wing then they were/are....especially on issues such as the environment, race, gay rights" Concerned Liberal, Minto, I think you just described the majority of Australians. The tactic KRudd used/claimed was he believed in everything Howard did but claimed he (KRudd) can do it better. = win election. But we knew then and now proven this is a lie. With gay rights, or different races, JH took them as they should be, just human beings who have individual thoughts.

Posted by: Bart R, Sydney

Saturday, 10 May 2008

bye bye John Poodle Howard, good riddance!

Posted by: frank fred, adelaide

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Yes Frank or is it Fred, your tad slow mate. May have something to do with two first names??

Posted by: Bart R, Sydney

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Frank Fred, my God - you're quick! Howard went 6 months ago! We've all moved on - why don't you? Take a look at wimpish Rudd... doing nothing and talking about everything, while the country sinks into the next recession we have to have (under Labor!)

Posted by: Geoff Bolton, Lane Cove

Friday, 09 May 2008

Is that it now Howard has gone, the great lier.

Posted by: G Maybury, Sydney

Saturday, 10 May 2008

G.Maybury-Sydney. It’s a good think that Rudd has the Education Revolution going-he may teach to spell.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

Saturday, 10 May 2008

Cut the crap - as if your labor mobs don't lie! All politicians lie. So stop holding high ground when labor politicians have even lower standard.

Posted by: W O, Turramurra

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Just listened to JH's speech, he is a champion and was a great Australian leader, he obviously loved Australia and is very patriotic, cant say the same for the other mob. Hope to see JH soon as I love to hear what he has to say. Always direct, and to the point, you know where he stands even if you don’t agree with him.

Posted by: Bart R, Sydney

Thursday, 08 May 2008

I think the Rudd record will speak for itself. No need to compare it with Mr Howard's record. Rudd's is abysmal all on its own.

Posted by: Indie Fatigue ah Ball, Carramar/Sydney

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Good on you John Howard-it is about time the Coalition got angry. They need to unite, like never before, and prove to the Australian people that they are a viable alternative Government and they need to do it right away. The economic indicators under this Rudd Government are not good. Rudd and Swan do not have the experience or the ability to ride out the inevitable ups and downs that the economy will face. A poor economy is bad for the people of Australia and sadly things are looking ominous.

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

Thursday, 08 May 2008

What a sad lot you are. Howard had the best team this country has ever had. This team did wonders for the Australian economy and people. They put more money in your pockets than previous parties have ever done. They shared the prosperity of Australia. Howard could do this as they reduced debt to zero, and put aside funds to meet future liabilities, remember the 95B black hole Labor left. I for one wish to thank Mr. Howard and Costello for a fantastic achievement.

Posted by: Andy Mac, HK

Thursday, 08 May 2008

History will show that Howard and CO wasted the biggest Boom (Created by Keating) that Australia has ever seen.Howard failed to fund infrastucture,Job skills etc and just spent money willie nillie on Pork Barreling Liberals own electorates.Shame,Shame Shame.Mr Howard you will be remembered don't you worry.Lest we forget keep looking at his babies growing Inflation and Interest rates.

Posted by: Paul Keating, Dapto

Thursday, 08 May 2008

If Howard was so bad/incompetent why did Rudd copy virtually everything? You’re too damn hopeless to argue with so I won’t, but Rudd’s shine will come off as soon as he has to make a decision without anyone to copy off. You may be out of work due to his incompetence. Time will tell. I agree, JH should have done more with infrastructure but while you’re at it you forgot to mention every ALP state gov have ripped funds out of every infrastructure possible. JH was busy paying ALP debts

Posted by: Bart R, Sydney

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Paul, one more point. Your master Rudd & Co brushes aside any responsibility of the current high interest rate,etc saying that they are the legacy of the Howard govt. Now you are telling us all these prosperity is due to Keating's so called reform. You labor people cannot have it both ways - just want to claim credit for economic prosperity at the same time blaming the high inflation and interest on the previous govt. Typical hypocrite and baltant double standard at its best.

Posted by: W O, Turramurra

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Paul, so you are telling us all the prosperity is due to Keating & Howard did not contribute, huh? We don't deny Keating's achievements but he handed us some nasties as well - deregulate banking (so we are now being ripped off), floating exchange rate (so import is cheap & blows up deficit), huge debt due to welfare payments, strikes & union bully, etc. So I think it's way over the top in implying all these prosperity is due to Keating/Hawke. Typical labor voters who can't think critically.

Posted by: W O, Turramurra

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Dear Liberal Lovers: All of you do your self a favor and research on the net Hawke/Keatings achievments.You should find to your absolute surprise and amazement that Keating actually handed Howard a very good Economy!Economic growth was over 4%,Interest rates falling,Unemployment falling.Now i acknowledge there was was a recession but can you acknowledge that Keating set us up for the good economic times that we have enjoyed?Or will you just supply the usual Liberal replies deviod of reason.

Posted by: Paul Keating, Dapto

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Paul Recession Keating-The only one redeeming feature about you is your blind, though misplaced loyalty to a failed ex Prime Minister. The Hawke Keating years actually took the Country backwards and Keating was responsible for a recession not a boom-do you know the difference? You continually choose to ignore the facts and figures when comparing the Hawke/Keating era with the Howard years. You and I may have our political leanings but facts and figures are impartial and Howard wins hands down. Unfortunately Rudd and Swan look like they are taking the economy into a downward spiral that will hurt ‘working families’-What a disgrace?

Posted by: Desmond Harris, Beacon Hill

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Paul, stop crapping about things that are totally false. What boom did Keating create? Since when a recession is called a boom? Also what waste did Howard created? I suggest you get an IQ check. Also today the Victorian teacher union is demanding up to 19% wage rises. So your master Rudd is taking us all down to another recession we had to have. Moronic labor voters dragging the rest of us down. Not difficult for you guys to enjoy recession as labor voters are typically bludgers anyway.

Posted by: W O, Turramurra

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Paul, Dapto. Forgive my audacity in questioning your entry. But how is delivering the lowest unemployment in 30+ years and lowest industrial disputations a "waste" of the good times? How is the establishment of the "Future Fund" similarly a "waste". How are successive year on year tax cuts a "waste"? What may be considered relevant is the growing irrelevance of the unions - with membership declining significantlt during the Work Choices era? Funding a union tree in Qld is a waste???

Posted by: Ben Hillman, Port stephens

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Keats...so now you are saying that Mr "recessiuon we had to have" actually created the boom? I know re-writing history is the style of ALL politicians (and in Rudd's case 're-badging Coalition policies as well), but even with my sense of humour (and the ridiculous!), I really can't make the link that you are (foolishly) proposing. However, I do give Keating credit for freeing up the banks (that are now using that freedom to screw us all!). Have a great day!

Posted by: Geoff Bolton, Lane Cove

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Ron, does the term "sense of humour" mean anything to you? Lighten up, get a life and get a check on reality! All politicians lie and cheat. Howard's predecessors were no exception. So vacate the moral high ground and go have a cold shower! Geez, you Queenslanders are a sad mob!

Posted by: Geoff Bolton, Lane Cove

Thursday, 08 May 2008

History will also show record unemployment, economic growth and wealth are all achieved during Howard's term, while the goose Keating & Co gave us a "recession we had to have" with "three highs" - high unemployment, high inflation, high interest rate. Economically speaking, it takes a particularly stupid group of people to stuff up the economy to such an extent as normally high interest & inflation are associated with economic prosperity (like now).

Posted by: W O, Turramurra

Thursday, 08 May 2008

howard governed by lies,deceit and racism.that goose downer forgot to mention the wheat board scandal,children overboard,tampa,haneef,hicks,wmd's and howards attack on the asians in 1988.history will show howard and his supporters of workchoices which was designed to cut the wages of the young and the disadvantaged should hang their heads in shame.good riddance to howard and his stooges,downer,ruddock and the daddy of them all KEVIN ANDREWS.

Posted by: bob godbold, blacktown

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Godbold. Work Choices did not cut wages. Refer to ABS data. Labor IR changes WILL cut jobs. Keep watching - it will hurt us Blacktownees.

Posted by: Gary Benson, Blacktown

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Labor learned a great deal from Howard..."policy ideas" being one of the key learnings.

Posted by: Geoff Bolton, Lane Cove

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Stick..(seriously) I would have thought Swan was the best exponent of asininity? And Rudd the expert in the art of inane commentary?

Posted by: Geoffrey Bolton, Lane Cove

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Ron Stuart , There is nothing wrong with your sense of humour or your aim , for mine it was a bullseye. Asinine and inane are only the tip of the iceberg .

Posted by: slick 6, WA

Thursday, 08 May 2008

Do the words asinine or inane mean anything to you?

Posted by: Ron Stuart, brisbane

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