6th Howard Government Retrospective - National Security Committee of Cabinet - Mr Peter Jennings PSM

The Howard Government faced several crises in its eleven years in office, from the beginning of the ‘war on terror’, through the (almost simultaneous) collapse of Australia’s second airline, Ansett, to the scandal of the Australian Wheat Board’s dealings with Iraq’s leader, Saddam Hussein and the waterfront struggles of Australia’s stevedoring companies against union control. How did the Howard Government respond to the crises it encountered; how did it ‘frame’ these crises for public understanding and support; what role did the media play in explaining particular crises and critiquing Government’s responses; how were the Government’s responses evaluated – by it and its critics - after each crisis had passed; was there a pattern from which we can learn to better inform contemporary government responses to crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and those that lie in wait? These questions focused the presentations and discussion at the John Howard Prime Ministerial Library’s 2022 annual conference. Speakers included former Howard Government ministers, academics, media commentators and crisis management experts including Mr Paul Kelly, The Honourable John Howard OM, AC, The Honourable Mal Brough, The Honourable Adjunct Professor Richard Alston AO, Dr Paul Barnes, Dr Scott Prasser, Professor Pene Mathew and Mr Peter Jennings.

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