Pie chucker John Howard on his biggest regret
In the plush surrounds of Sydney's Intercontinental Hotel last week, John Howard was feeling candid.
The former prime minister was the star attraction at a VIP dinner for business leaders organised by an outfit called TACTIC. Who? Well, the firm describes itself as 'Australia's end to end workplace partner', and as far as we can tell, does something in the commercial property space.
Perhaps a sign of Howard's never-ending energy to spruik Liberal ideals to any audience, or a sign of how far his party has fallen in an era of Labor dominance. Still, Howard had the crowd of corporate types, including executives at top consulting firms like KPMG and PwC, eating out of his hands.
As the wine flowed and oysters platters worked the room, Howard revealed the biggest regret of his prime ministership.
Not the Iraq War, WorkChoices, the republic referendum or anything so unsavoury. Instead, the moment the famous cricket tragic was talked into bowling a few right-arm mediums by the Pakistani army while visiting the country in 2005. Howard's rank pies shocked the Pakistanis, embarrassed PM25, and the photos have been widely memed ever since.
The former PM turned to another cricketing reference when discussing US President Donald Trump, who he criticised for his January 6 dummy spit, telling the crowd that when the umpire gives you out, you ought to hack it and head back to the pavilion.
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Howard also discussed energy policy (he still backs nuclear), the Albanese government's superannuation tax changes (which he called theft), and, in a particularly chilling moment for some of the Liberal hacks present, spoke highly of Labor Premier Chris Minns.
How did TACTIC land the big man? Its managing director, Mel Pikos, is a bit of a Liberal about town in Queensland and aspiring defence wonk, interviewing former opposition leader Peter Dutton for his podcast last year. That $60,000 the firm donated to the Liberal National Party in the last financial year also might've helped.
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ABC News
2 hours ago
- ABC News
Tasmanian state election 2025 promise tracker: What the Liberals, Labor, Greens and Nationals are promising
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The Advertiser
3 hours ago
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Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to lay out his key priorities for reform as he confronts "intensifying pressures" on the economy. Fixing the nation's stagnating productivity and turning around the budget's outlook amid forecast deficits as far as the eye can see are topping his list. As the economy records anaemic growth, Dr Chalmers on Wednesday will push for the nation to recognise "three blunt truths" standing in the way of higher living standards. "Our budget is stronger, but not yet sustainable enough," he will tell the National Press Club in Canberra. "Our economy is growing, but not productive enough. "It's resilient, but not resilient enough - in the face of all this global economic volatility." Dr Chalmers is vowing to ensure Labor's second term is consistent with those priorities. And despite the progress made on getting inflation back within the Reserve Bank's target band, the treasurer will say there's still more to do. Dr Chalmers will identify productivity as the government's primary focus. "Our economy is not dynamic or innovative enough," he will say. "Private investment has picked up, but not by enough to make our capital deep enough. "Skills aren't abundant enough or matched well enough to business needs." On the government's productivity roundtable in August, the treasurer will say it won't be a move to "retract or retrace" the steps taken in the first term, but an effort to renew and refresh. Weak productivity growth is a major problem for advanced economies around the world. "Too often it's seen as a cold, almost soulless concept when it's really the best way of making people better off over time, creating more opportunities, making our economy and our society more dynamic," the treasurer will say. In Australia, labour productivity has stagnated since the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest GDP figures released earlier in June showed a fall in the year to March. The 2022 election coincided with the largest quarterly fall in productivity growth in almost half a century, the treasurer will say. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to lay out his key priorities for reform as he confronts "intensifying pressures" on the economy. Fixing the nation's stagnating productivity and turning around the budget's outlook amid forecast deficits as far as the eye can see are topping his list. As the economy records anaemic growth, Dr Chalmers on Wednesday will push for the nation to recognise "three blunt truths" standing in the way of higher living standards. "Our budget is stronger, but not yet sustainable enough," he will tell the National Press Club in Canberra. "Our economy is growing, but not productive enough. "It's resilient, but not resilient enough - in the face of all this global economic volatility." Dr Chalmers is vowing to ensure Labor's second term is consistent with those priorities. And despite the progress made on getting inflation back within the Reserve Bank's target band, the treasurer will say there's still more to do. Dr Chalmers will identify productivity as the government's primary focus. "Our economy is not dynamic or innovative enough," he will say. "Private investment has picked up, but not by enough to make our capital deep enough. "Skills aren't abundant enough or matched well enough to business needs." On the government's productivity roundtable in August, the treasurer will say it won't be a move to "retract or retrace" the steps taken in the first term, but an effort to renew and refresh. Weak productivity growth is a major problem for advanced economies around the world. "Too often it's seen as a cold, almost soulless concept when it's really the best way of making people better off over time, creating more opportunities, making our economy and our society more dynamic," the treasurer will say. In Australia, labour productivity has stagnated since the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest GDP figures released earlier in June showed a fall in the year to March. The 2022 election coincided with the largest quarterly fall in productivity growth in almost half a century, the treasurer will say. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to lay out his key priorities for reform as he confronts "intensifying pressures" on the economy. Fixing the nation's stagnating productivity and turning around the budget's outlook amid forecast deficits as far as the eye can see are topping his list. As the economy records anaemic growth, Dr Chalmers on Wednesday will push for the nation to recognise "three blunt truths" standing in the way of higher living standards. "Our budget is stronger, but not yet sustainable enough," he will tell the National Press Club in Canberra. "Our economy is growing, but not productive enough. "It's resilient, but not resilient enough - in the face of all this global economic volatility." Dr Chalmers is vowing to ensure Labor's second term is consistent with those priorities. And despite the progress made on getting inflation back within the Reserve Bank's target band, the treasurer will say there's still more to do. Dr Chalmers will identify productivity as the government's primary focus. "Our economy is not dynamic or innovative enough," he will say. "Private investment has picked up, but not by enough to make our capital deep enough. "Skills aren't abundant enough or matched well enough to business needs." On the government's productivity roundtable in August, the treasurer will say it won't be a move to "retract or retrace" the steps taken in the first term, but an effort to renew and refresh. Weak productivity growth is a major problem for advanced economies around the world. "Too often it's seen as a cold, almost soulless concept when it's really the best way of making people better off over time, creating more opportunities, making our economy and our society more dynamic," the treasurer will say. In Australia, labour productivity has stagnated since the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest GDP figures released earlier in June showed a fall in the year to March. The 2022 election coincided with the largest quarterly fall in productivity growth in almost half a century, the treasurer will say. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is set to lay out his key priorities for reform as he confronts "intensifying pressures" on the economy. Fixing the nation's stagnating productivity and turning around the budget's outlook amid forecast deficits as far as the eye can see are topping his list. As the economy records anaemic growth, Dr Chalmers on Wednesday will push for the nation to recognise "three blunt truths" standing in the way of higher living standards. "Our budget is stronger, but not yet sustainable enough," he will tell the National Press Club in Canberra. "Our economy is growing, but not productive enough. "It's resilient, but not resilient enough - in the face of all this global economic volatility." Dr Chalmers is vowing to ensure Labor's second term is consistent with those priorities. And despite the progress made on getting inflation back within the Reserve Bank's target band, the treasurer will say there's still more to do. Dr Chalmers will identify productivity as the government's primary focus. "Our economy is not dynamic or innovative enough," he will say. "Private investment has picked up, but not by enough to make our capital deep enough. "Skills aren't abundant enough or matched well enough to business needs." On the government's productivity roundtable in August, the treasurer will say it won't be a move to "retract or retrace" the steps taken in the first term, but an effort to renew and refresh. Weak productivity growth is a major problem for advanced economies around the world. "Too often it's seen as a cold, almost soulless concept when it's really the best way of making people better off over time, creating more opportunities, making our economy and our society more dynamic," the treasurer will say. In Australia, labour productivity has stagnated since the COVID-19 pandemic. The latest GDP figures released earlier in June showed a fall in the year to March. The 2022 election coincided with the largest quarterly fall in productivity growth in almost half a century, the treasurer will say.
Sydney Morning Herald
4 hours ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
Pie chucker John Howard on his biggest regret
In the plush surrounds of Sydney's Intercontinental Hotel last week, John Howard was feeling candid. The former prime minister was the star attraction at a VIP dinner for business leaders organised by an outfit called TACTIC. Who? Well, the firm describes itself as 'Australia's end to end workplace partner', and as far as we can tell, does something in the commercial property space. Perhaps a sign of Howard's never-ending energy to spruik Liberal ideals to any audience, or a sign of how far his party has fallen in an era of Labor dominance. Still, Howard had the crowd of corporate types, including executives at top consulting firms like KPMG and PwC, eating out of his hands. As the wine flowed and oysters platters worked the room, Howard revealed the biggest regret of his prime ministership. Not the Iraq War, WorkChoices, the republic referendum or anything so unsavoury. Instead, the moment the famous cricket tragic was talked into bowling a few right-arm mediums by the Pakistani army while visiting the country in 2005. Howard's rank pies shocked the Pakistanis, embarrassed PM25, and the photos have been widely memed ever since. The former PM turned to another cricketing reference when discussing US President Donald Trump, who he criticised for his January 6 dummy spit, telling the crowd that when the umpire gives you out, you ought to hack it and head back to the pavilion. Loading Howard also discussed energy policy (he still backs nuclear), the Albanese government's superannuation tax changes (which he called theft), and, in a particularly chilling moment for some of the Liberal hacks present, spoke highly of Labor Premier Chris Minns. How did TACTIC land the big man? Its managing director, Mel Pikos, is a bit of a Liberal about town in Queensland and aspiring defence wonk, interviewing former opposition leader Peter Dutton for his podcast last year. That $60,000 the firm donated to the Liberal National Party in the last financial year also might've helped.
