Tuesday, December 21, 2004

John Howard becomes Australia's second longest serving PM

SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - John Howard thanked Australian voters for handing him four election victories as he prepared for a low key celebration with his family Tuesday to mark the day he became Australia's second longest serving prime minister.

Howard, 65, began his 3,207th day in office Tuesday, overtaking charismatic former Labor Party leader Bob Hawke's record, with his usual brisk walk around the shores of Sydney Harbor.

Only Howard's political hero, conservative leader Sir Robert Menzies, served longer.

Menzies notched up a virtually unassailable 16 years, one month and eight days in the job in two stints spanning a period from World War II to the mid-1960s.

"I want first of all to express many thanks to the people of Australia for the greatest privilege they have given me in electing me as Prime Minister on four occasions,'' Howard said.

He also paid tribute to the support his wife Janette had given him during three decades as a lawmaker.

"More than anybody else she has helped me, advised me, counseled me and encouraged me in the 30 years I've been in public life,'' Howard said.

"She's been there in the good times and the not so good times and without her love and support I would not have been able to achieve it.''

He said he would celebrate with a small family dinner.

"It's not an occasion for anything more lavish than that,'' he said.

Once his bitter rival, Hawke paid tribute to Howard's endurance.

"I recognize it and I congratulate John Howard on his achievement,'' he told Australian Broadcasting Corp. radio.

A one-time suburban Sydney lawyer, Howard's conservative coalition first won power in 1996, toppling unpopular Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating but inheriting a liberalized economy that has since powered ahead, shrugging off the Asian economic crisis and fueling a housing boom that has enriched millions of Australians.

Howard only just won his second election in 1998 but in two elections since the terror attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, Howard's government has increased its majority.

In October elections, Howard became the first prime minister in 24 years to control both houses of Parliament, making him the most powerful premier in a generation.

Under his leadership, Australia has significantly strengthened ties with the United States, sending troops to join the war on terror and also signing a free trade pact with Washington that comes into force Jan. 1.

And while his opponents say the close U.S. relationship hurts Australia's reputation with its Asian neighbors, Howard argues he has built bridges to Asia - Australia recently agreed to begin talks toward a free trade pact with the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations and has signed a multibillion dollar gas export deal with China.

In an editorial Tuesday, The Australian newspaper commended Howard not only for his strong economic management but also for taking sometimes unpopular decisions based on his own principles - including introducing the sales tax, joining the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, tightening gun control laws and marshaling an international troop force to quell violence in East Timor following the country's vote for independence from Indonesia.

"These were all stands based on doing what he believed was right and hoping he would be able to convince the electorate to agree,'' The Australian said. - AP

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