BirKibrisli wrote:Paphidis wrote:A bit rich considering that the previous Australian Government was arguably the most successful and popular administrations in Australian History. If he was a laughing stock, then why did the Australian people keep re-electing the same Government over 12 years? The Howard, Downer, and Costello Government would not have been referred as "The A Team" by the popular electorate and media for no reason. The strong fiscal policies of this Government actually turned a 14% unemployment rate to 4%, a 100 Billion Dollar budget deficit to a strong surplus, annual growth of 4%, wiped out Australia's foreign debt, and virtually turned all Australian investors into paper millionaires.
As for his views on Cyprus, I could actually tell you what they are, but I won't. Just be sure that he does know who is right and who is wrong, but above all he will conduct himself in a very professional and fair way. His record speaks for itself, and the Australian Electorate did re-elect him time and time again. He held his electorate for 25 years until he resigned in order to become UN envoy to Cyprus. He also played a crucial role in the Liberation and Independence of East Timor.
You cannot talk,Paphidis... You are a member of the Liberal Party,and hence not an objective commentator...I am a swinging voter as well and I have voted for the Fraser Liberal government in the past...They were people of integrity...The Howard government was popular but it was not good...In fact it was a disgrace,a reactionary government which in social policy took Austalia back to the 1950s...Under Howard racism became respectable in Australia,and we had the first race riots in Sydney where white Anglo supremists attacked anybody who looked mildly Middle eastern without serious consequences..Under Howard the native Australians got a raw deal,and Multiculturalism became a dirty word...Under Howard the environment was totally ignored and the Kyoto threaty was not ratified...Howard became Bush's deputy and followed him blindly into the mindless Iraq war...Under Howard individual freedoms dwindled under the guise of fighting for terrorism...Howard's was the most oppressive regime since his hero Menzies' from back in the early 60s....If,as someone from an ethnic background, you found the Howard government acceptable you need your head examined...Something is seriously missing on the top paddock...
What a load of rubbish. The Howard Government absolutely did nothing that encouraged any race riots whatsoever.
And yes, under Howard, Australianism became paramount which is quite crucial for a young country developing her own identity. It does not mean he was disrespectful to multiculturism.
As for Australia's very "special" relationship with the US, I think you will find that this has been the case since WWII, and no matter which administration is in power, it will never change. The Rudd Government is just as much pro US as anyone before him. Foreign Policy does not change when we have a change in Government. The only thing that changes is the window dressing.
As for me, I have always felt free in Australia. I feel more free today due to very responsible national security and border security initiatives by the Howard Government. I feel safe when I travel and don't give a damn about the extra security measures that I encounter at Australian Airports. I could not give a damn either, if ASIO decide to tap my phones, because I am no terrorist and also have nothing to hide. I am also glad that Australia's extensive security networks uncovered an Al Qaeda cell that was planning to bomb the Rialto Towers.
I am just one ethnic who found Howard acceptable. And believe me when I tell you there are thousands more that did. Greeks, Italians, Chinese, Germans, and even Turks found him acceptable. Usually these ethnics that did find him acceptable were more your entrepreneurial or educated types, whilst the first generations probably did not find Howard palatable.
Bottom line is that the Howard Government was popular, and was exactly the type of administration Australia needed at the time. You will also find that Australia may very well return to a Liberal Government if the current economic crisis continues, because the Rudd Government has the fiscal policies of a wombat. When things get tough, Australians vote Liberal. That must tell you something.