Reflections on the 'Howard Project': John Howard's Former Speechwriter on the Success and Failures of the Howard Message

Did John Howard have a specific 'vision' for Australia during the eleven and a half years he was Prime Minister? The author argues that Howard did not. There was however a 'Howard Project', and, in a sense, a project is broader, more complex and more interesting than a vision. The Howard Project spanned the full spectrum of economic, social, cultural and international affairs. It reflected his distinctive blend of liberal and conservative instincts, ideas and values. Some comparisons to former prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Paul Keating are made.