Will The Real Mr Howard Please Stand Up!

Media Release, 20th October 2007

It has often been claimed that John Howard is one of the most conservative Prime Ministers in Australia's history, but recent remarks have the Victorian branch of Fred Nile's Christian Democratic Party wondering if he deserves any such status.

Two of his recent statements should have genuine conservatives alarmed and alert.

(1) Mr Howard's proposal to rewrite the preamble to the Australian Constitution to include reference to the original inhabitants, although well intentioned, will do little more than entrench tribalism. This kind of appeasement would achieve little more than to empower pro-separatist Aboriginal activists at the expense of those who favour a more assimilationist approach.

Additionally, any rewrite of the preamble in today's climate of secularism and political correctness risks removal of that passage reminding us of our Christian heritage. That is - "humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God". What true conservative would risk this?

(2) In a recent interview with The Age, Mr Howard is reported to have given a commitment that his Government “would continue to look at possible action to remove discrimination against gays on matters such as superannuation." (The Age, Oct 17) Is this the same John Howard who legislated to strictly define marriage as between a man and a woman?

Will the real Mr. Howard please stand up?

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