Strong economic growth, low inflation and interest rates, lowest unemployment in 30 years, creation of around two million new jobs, and wage increases.
Record health funding of $47.6 billion in 2006-07. (help with medicare and family assistance).
Increased family assistance payments from $14 billion in 1996-97 to nearly $27 billion in 2005-06. Increased funding for state schools and higher education and vocational and technical training.
He introduced gun control with a federally-funded buy-back scheme in 1996.
Goods and Services consumption tax (GST) July 2000. GST revenue of around $40 billion per annum granted to the States and Territories.
Reform of industrial relations system. Replacement of award wages with direct employer-employee enterprise agreements. Introduction of WorkChoices 2006.
Gradual privatisation of Telstra, with initial billion dollar proceeds going to environmental funding.
Introduced principle of mutual obligation to social policy.
Committed Australian troops to international coalitions led by the United States in Afghanistan and Iraq as part of the ‘War on Terror’. Took a leading role in United Nations peace enforcement in East Timor which enabled the independent democratic state of East
Timor to be proclaimed in 2002.
Adopted an ‘Asia-plus’ diplomacy, focusing on relations with Australia’s Asian neighbours while maintaining and developing traditional links with Britain and other Commonwealth nations and the United States.
Program to extend broadband internet and mobile phone connections to regional and rural areas.