EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: John Howard on Misogyny, Paul Keating, and the new edition of Lazarus Rising

Booktopia's John Purcell sat down with former Prime Minister John Howard to talk about his revised edition of Lazarus Rising. They also chat about Paul Keating, the differences between the Liberals and Labor, Julia Gillard's misogyny speech, WorkChoices reform and his love of cricket.
Grab a signed copy of his updated memoir Lazarus Rising today at - www.booktopia.c... - www.booktopia.c...

[@paulcoffey359]

John Howard has no one to thank more than Paul Keating.

[@Duggi311]

This man inherited all of Paul Keating's hard work, and he has the gall to sit there and say he was responsible for leaving Australia as a prosperous, strong country! What utter lies he spouts

[@gregsmith451]

Yes - all that hard work. deficit after deficit after deficit. unemployment that passed 10%. Job opportunities tighter than a fish' cake-hole. Keating's "hard work" finished in the mid 80's. The ALP started window dressing with feel good issues to the detriment of this "hard work" and the economy went south. At what stage were they going to deliver a surplus? At what stage were they going to de-regulate the industrial relations system? Keating as treasurer initiated changes that Howard as his predecessor was unable to. Keating & Hawke were only able to push through reforms with the opposition's (Howard's) support because a great many of their own party were opposed. But hey, don't let history's truth get in the way of your slogans.

[@lodgee]

+Greg Smith And yet the only federal government to cut spending as a proportion of gdp (87), float the dollar, deregulate the financial industry and open up the banking market, just to name a few. Keating and Hawke managed to do what the Fraser governments couldn't and deserve credit (and I say this as a card carrying member of the Liberal party). Keating and Howard were more similar than they were different.

[@jerryscanas]

@@gregsmith451 Again come up with some coherent arguments John Howard is a pencil neck ninny that stole away the freedoms we Aussies had in making the semi automatics that we used to be able to buy he basically made us all criminals for the actions of one man he is an evil dog and a fucking prick of a shit.

[@jerryscanas]

@@gregsmith451 GDP is not king!!

[@gappzapp1248]

Yeah his massive deficit

[@JM-rn8zm]

John Howard did provide stability during his tenure as PM BUT he can’t claim all the success. Running a country and making changes takes years for them to be implemented and see the fruits of there hard work. It defiantly came from Hawk/Keating and Howard.

[@brettbrett9973]

Spot on.His record is not that great especially as Treasurer.This guy did a lot of damage.

[@Jeansieguy]

From the man who left us with structural deficit when we were riding high on endless trade with China

[@gf5711]

John Howard is a sensible person who fairly judges what many tend to blow-out of proportion......

[@Westyrulz]

A sound and fair analysis.

[@reidalldabooks3418]

Howard is actually a pleasant enough guy. Though I actually feel that most of these guys will be better players in office once they've been out of it a while. Imagine Keating back in office now? Our country would advance "donkeys years" within one term, as he likes to say!

[@Simon-i6m]

Under labour i had no job but i got educated alot under the conservatives i was always employed

[@cdgh99]

An interview without substance.

[@ray.shoesmith]

Ill wait until its on special at the $2 Shop so its cheaper than dunny roll. This man has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

[@Westyrulz]

He likes cricket.

[@ray.shoesmith]

@@Westyrulz Yeah, but he wouldn't get a bowl in the Special Olympics C grade team

[@Westyrulz]

@@ray.shoesmith Yes I remember his delivery in Pakistan in 2005,however I did't say he was good at cricket but that he liked it. I am sure you will concur this is indeed a redeeming quality.

[@Dreama40]

I just farted.

[@RibbonVintageGirl]

Oh no...

[@peterkarras8523]

John Howard sent in the armed forces of Australia into Iraq without getting a UN mandate, He may have lead Australia into prosperity but it's the second Gulf war.

[@Egalitarianism-qx8mf]

Blaire, Bush, and Howard should all be tried at the Hague for war crimes!!! They essentially violated international law making the Iraq war illegal, as you mentioned(no UN mandate). As far as I am concerned Howard is by far one of THE WORST PMs we've ever had!!!

[@grahampahl7100]

hence the reason hes a war criminal

[@Westyrulz]

He freed East Timor which may help to balance things out a bit.

[@masonnix9566]

THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!

[@georgenigg4799]

He should be in jail! Now he's selling his book of lies!