HOWARD COLLECTS ON COAST
It is 20 years ago that the Prime Minister’s Cup delivered a financial windfall to our PM of the time
AUSTRALIANS go to the polls today to elect the next federal government.
It’s been six years since the Liberal-National Coalition was elected and 12 years since the last time the nation saw a single Prime Minister serve a full term in office without being dumped.
Since the fall of the Howard Government in November 2007 the voting public has witnessed a revolving door-like situation in the corridors of power.
John Howard exited parliament at that election, while Kevin Rudd was cut down by his own colleagues less than three years later and replaced by Julia Gillard.
Ms Gillard too, in turn, was replaced by Mr Rudd before Labor’s 2013 election loss.
The Coalition party room has spent much of its six years engaging in its own Game of
Thrones, knocking off Tony Abbott in 2015 and Malcom Turnbull last year in favour of Scott Morrison.
The voting public will now decide whether Mr Morrison will too lose the keys to The Lodge to Labor leader Bill Shorten.
Voters are understandably cynical after so many ups and downs, with the 1983-2007 rules of Bob Hawke, Paul Keating and Mr Howard viewed as a period of stability.
Twenty years ago this week the Gold Coast was excited when Mr Howard came to town and spent a day ruling from the city.
Already in office for three years at that point, he became just the second PM to attend the Prime Minister’s Cup at the Gold Coast Turf Club.
Coming 17 years after Malcolm Fraser’s visit, it was a prosperous occasion for Mr Howard, who had a win.
He had a $20 bet each way on third placegetter Perpetual Check which paid out at $2.40.
Mr Howard told media he arrived at the track ready to jack Joss Sticks but two things changed his mind.
One was a quiet time from Perpetual Check’s master trainer, Bart Cummings.
The other was a GST omen, referring to the Goods and Services tax he was attempting to pass through Parliament at the time.
His Gold Coast visit coincided with tense negotiations he was conducting with the Democrats.
“Apart from anything else (the horse’s name) reminds me of the Senate,” he said.
Despite giving Mr Howard a tip, Mr Cummings slammed his GST plans.
“It should never be allowed on food,” he said.
“This is simple, if you go to the supermarket and do your shopping and spend a hundred bucks it will cost more and people can’t afford that.
“A good tax is reasonable but not for services.”
While on the Gold Coast, Mr Howard attended a gala dinner at the Gold Coast International with then-Moncrieff MP Kathy Sullivan who used the occasion to inform the PM she would retire in 2001.
He also visited All Saints Anglican School at Merrimac where he opened the school’s International House for foreign students.
In a speech to the student body he declared it to be “a model of racial harmony” which represented “the new Australian society”.
Alongside him for the speech was then-Brisbane Archbishop Peter Hollingwoth who Mr Howard later controversially tapped to become Governor General before resigning under a cloud.
Mr Hollingworth called the PM’s speech “one of the most significant leadership statements on racial harmony” made in recent times.