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The Howard Effect: Australia’s Sliding Doors Moment

Mar 3, 2026 •

It was the second of March 1996. After 13 years of Labor in power, Paul Keating’s government had been defeated in a landslide, closing the door on the Hawke-Keating era and opening another on a new political age.

John Howard’s victory marked the beginning of a prime ministership that would run for eleven years – redefining the Liberal Party, reshaping the economy, hardening the culture wars and changing the way power is exercised in Canberra.

In this three-part series, Amy Remeikis – contributing editor at The New Daily takes us back to Howard’s years in power.

Amy has just released a new book on Howard, Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard. In this series she traces his improbable rise to the prime ministership, the way he consolidated power, and how he reshaped the nation in his own image.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series.

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

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The Howard Effect: Australia’s Sliding Doors Moment

1837 • Mar 3, 2026

The Howard Effect: Australia’s Sliding Doors Moment

It was the second of March 1996. After 13 years of Labor in power, Paul Keating’s government had been defeated in a landslide, closing the door on the Hawke-Keating era and opening another on a new political age.

John Howard’s victory marked the beginning of a prime ministership that would run for eleven years – redefining the Liberal Party, reshaping the economy, hardening the culture wars and changing the way power is exercised in Canberra.

In this three-part series, Amy Remeikis – contributing editor at The New Daily takes us back to Howard’s years in power.

Amy has just released a new book on Howard, Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard. In this series she traces his improbable rise to the prime ministership, the way he consolidated power, and how he reshaped the nation in his own image.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series.

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

Guest: Author of Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard, Amy Remeikis

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7am is a daily show from Solstice Media.

It’s made by Atticus Bastow, Arielle Richards, Chris Dengate, Daniel James, Krystal Keller, Nicole Johnston, Travis Evans and Zoltan Fecso.

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1837: The Howard Effect: Australia’s Sliding Doors Moment