It was just before Christmas when Geraldine Brooks sat down for the first in a series of conversations with Anthony Albanese – and his popularity was plummeting.

The prime minister's net approval rating had dropped to minus 17, while Peter Dutton’s had ticked up to zero. Since then, the polls haven’t improved for Albanese.

His critics have painted him as weak and ineffective – a narrative reinforced by the failure of the Voice referendum and a perception of inaction on climate change.

This portrayal is in stark contrast to his background as a passionate activist, who was once arrested at an anti-logging protest.

Today, author and contributor to The Monthly Geraldine Brooks on the public’s perception of Anthony Albanese – and, win or lose, what will be his legacy.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and contributor to The Monthly, Geraldine Brooks.

Background reading: Safe as houses? 

Photo: Ben Clement

It was just before Christmas when Geraldine Brooks sat down for the first in a series of conversations with Anthony Albanese &ndash; and his popularity was plummeting.
The prime minister's net approval rating had dropped to minus 17, while Peter Dutton&rsquo;s had ticked up to zero. Since then, the polls haven&rsquo;t improved for Albanese.
His critics have painted him as weak and ineffective &ndash; a narrative reinforced by the failure of the Voice referendum and a perception of inaction on climate change.
This portrayal is in stark contrast to his background as a passionate activist, who was once arrested at an anti-logging protest.
Today, author and contributor to The Monthly Geraldine Brooks on the public&rsquo;s perception of Anthony Albanese &ndash; and, win or lose, what will be his legacy.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist and contributor to The Monthly, Geraldine Brooks.
Background reading: <a href="https://www.themonthly.com.au/issue/2025/march/geraldine-brooks/safe-houses">Safe as houses?</a>&nbsp;
Photo:&nbsp;Ben Clement

An independent daily news show. We feature the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

An independent daily news show. We feature the country&rsquo;s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper.

A daily news show from the publisher of The Monthly and The Saturday Paper. Hear from the country’s best reporters, covering the news as it affects Australia. This is news with narrative, every weekday.

Geraldine Brooks on Anthony Albanese's legacy

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/6c175b8f-8951-41a7-a9e8-b291005d75c8/transcript

When the High Court handed down its Mabo decision, it cracked open the legal fiction at the heart of the nation. Terra Nullius was gone.

For John Howard, then in opposition, it provided  an opportunity. He framed the moment not as correction, but as a threat. A story was spun to suburban and regional Australia: your backyard, your lease, your livelihood were suddenly, all under threat.

For John Howard, the real battle was over the nation’s conscience. He dismissed what he called the “black armband” view of history and described the violence and dispossession of the past as mere “blemishes” on an otherwise proud national story. He refused to apologise to the Stolen Generations, rejecting the idea that the nation owed a moral debt. In its place, he chose pride over reckoning — and ideology over truth.

Author and political commentator Amy Remeikis has spent months tracing the threads of Howard’s legacy,  not just the policies, but the narratives that made them possible.

This is the Howard Effect, a three part series from 7am marking 30 years since John Howard's ascent to power. Episode Three - Who Belongs

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest:  Author of Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard, Amy Remeikis

When the High Court handed down its Mabo decision, it cracked open the legal fiction at the heart of the nation. Terra Nullius was gone.
For John Howard, then in opposition, it provided&nbsp; an opportunity. He framed the moment not as correction, but as a threat. A story was spun to suburban and regional Australia: your backyard, your lease, your livelihood were suddenly, all under threat.
For John Howard, the real battle was over the nation&rsquo;s conscience. He dismissed what he called the &ldquo;black armband&rdquo; view of history and described the violence and dispossession of the past as mere &ldquo;blemishes&rdquo; on an otherwise proud national story. He refused to apologise to the Stolen Generations, rejecting the idea that the nation owed a moral debt. In its place, he chose pride over reckoning &mdash; and ideology over truth.
Author and political commentator Amy Remeikis has spent months tracing the threads of Howard&rsquo;s legacy,&nbsp; not just the policies, but the narratives that made them possible.
This is the Howard Effect, a three part series from 7am marking 30 years since John Howard's ascent to power. Episode Three - Who Belongs
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest:&nbsp; Author of Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard, Amy Remeikis

The Howard Effect: Who Belongs

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/bc4eed9a-f762-4807-9ca9-b4010027bfc8/transcript

It’s just over two years into his first term and John Howard is taking the country to another election. In that short time he has seized the mantle of economic credibility away from Labor and rewritten the argument about who could be trusted to manage the economy. 

The memory of Labor's reforms while in government were suddenly distant, and the constant reminder of the devastating recession of the 90s were kept fresh in the mind of voters by Howard and his treasurer Peter Costello.

Economic Management became the major selling point for Howard in every election from there on in.

This is The Howard Effect, a three-part series marking 30 years since John Howard’s emphatic election victory. Today, author Amy Remeikis on the economic revolution that defined his government — the tax reforms, the housing settings, and the policy choices that helped create the Australia we are all still living in. 

This is episode 2 - In the Shadows of the Australian Dream. 

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Author of Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard, Amy Remeikis

It&rsquo;s just over two years into his first term and John Howard is taking the country to another election. In that short time he has seized the mantle of economic credibility away from Labor and rewritten the argument about who could be trusted to manage the economy.&nbsp;
The memory of Labor's reforms while in government were suddenly distant, and the constant reminder of the devastating recession of the 90s were kept fresh in the mind of voters by Howard and his treasurer Peter Costello.
Economic Management became the major selling point for Howard in every election from there on in.
This is The Howard Effect, a three-part series marking 30 years since John Howard&rsquo;s emphatic election victory. Today, author Amy Remeikis on the economic revolution that defined his government &mdash; the tax reforms, the housing settings, and the policy choices that helped create the Australia we are all still living in.&nbsp;
This is episode 2 - In the Shadows of the Australian Dream.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Author of Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard, Amy Remeikis

The Howard Effect: In the Shadows of the Australian Dream

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/0c721061-a25a-4b6e-8598-b40100255589/transcript

It was the second of March 1996. After 13 years of Labor in power, Paul Keating’s government had been defeated in a landslide, closing the door on the Hawke-Keating era and opening another on a new political age.

John Howard’s victory marked the beginning of a prime ministership that would run for eleven years – redefining the Liberal Party, reshaping the economy, hardening the culture wars and changing the way power is exercised in Canberra.

In this three-part series, Amy Remeikis – contributing editor at The New Daily takes us back to Howard’s years in power.

Amy has just released a new book on Howard, Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard. In this series she traces his improbable rise to the prime ministership, the way he consolidated power, and how he reshaped the nation in his own image.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series.

 

If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.

 

Socials:Stay in touch with us on Instagram

Guest: Author of Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard, Amy Remeikis

It was the second of March 1996. After 13 years of Labor in power, Paul Keating&rsquo;s government had been defeated in a landslide, closing the door on the Hawke-Keating era and opening another on a new political age.
John Howard&rsquo;s victory marked the beginning of a prime ministership that would run for eleven years &ndash; redefining the Liberal Party, reshaping the economy, hardening the culture wars and changing the way power is exercised in Canberra.
In this three-part series, Amy Remeikis &ndash; contributing editor at&nbsp;The New Daily takes us back to Howard&rsquo;s years in power.
Amy has just released a new book on Howard,&nbsp;Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard. In this series she traces his improbable rise to the prime ministership, the way he consolidated power, and how he reshaped the nation in his own image.
This is Part 1 of a three-part series.
&nbsp;
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at <a href="http://7ampodcast.com.au/support">7ampodcast.com.au/support</a>.
&nbsp;
Socials: Stay in touch with us on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/7ampodcast">Instagram</a>
Guest: Author of Where It All Went Wrong: The case against John Howard, Amy Remeikis

The Howard Effect: Australia’s Sliding Doors Moment

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/7efbb76d-2e62-4bc0-9bfb-b3fe00584b93/transcript

Geraldine Brooks on Anthony Albanese's legacy

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