Government News Index
Howard rejects 'crisis'
AAP
22mar02
PRIME Minister John Howard has dismissed suggestions his Government was in crisis at the end of the first session of parliament for his third term.
He also said today he was unconcerned about the stability of his leadership and did not believe he was likely to be challenged.
His comments came as parliament went into a seven-week break ahead of the May 14 Budget, and following a series of government crises - mostly of its own making.
In the first four weeks of parliament, Mr Howard has fought off controversies over the Governor-General, the children overboard affair, money for GPs to build a new headquarters, and Liberal Senator Bill Heffernan's attack on High Court Justice Michael Kirby.
But Mr Howard pointed to the Government's economic credentials, including high growth and falling unemployment levels.
"I don't accept that the Government has gone from crisis to crisis," Mr Howard told the Nine Network from London.
"It is not a crisis when you have presided over creating 950,000 new jobs.
"We have the fastest-growing economy in the industrialised world. Our economic performance is the envy of the world.
"It is certainly the envy of people I have spoken to here in Britain over the last few days.
"I just completely reject any suggestion that the government has gone from crisis to crisis."
Opposition Leader Simon Crean said the Government had been paralysed by scandals and internal divisions during the opening session of parliament.
"His parliamentary timetable has been a disaster, with important legislation having to be dropped, or rushed into the parliament with little or no consultation," Mr Crean said in a statement.
He said the Government's performance had led to new leadership rumblings within the Liberal Party.
But Mr Howard said his leadership was solid.
"I don't believe I will face any leadership challenge," he said.
"Quite frankly if people want to speculate about that they can go ahead and do so. It really doesn't concern me in the slightest."