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Tony Abbott Claims Hawke-Howard Era Liberated Australia from External Domination

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  Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, November 23rd 2025 at 14:46 GMT by Sky News Australia

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How Tony Abbott Says the Hawke–Howard Era Freed Australia and Restored National Self‑Determination

In a recent Sky News profile, former Prime Minister Tony Abbott takes a trip down memory lane to explain why he believes the “Hawke–Howard era” (1983‑2007) was the defining period that liberated Australia from external domination and put its citizens back in the driver’s seat of their own destiny. The article, which follows a number of links to additional reporting on the era, draws heavily on Abbott’s own rhetoric, the policy achievements of the two leaders, and a broader narrative about Australia’s post‑colonial national identity.

1. Setting the Scene: Why the Past Matters

Abbott’s argument begins with a simple premise: for over a decade, Australia’s political leadership was dominated by “the politics of the moment,” a phrase he uses to describe the fleeting concerns of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and the Australian Liberal Party’s own infighting in the early 2000s. In contrast, he claims that Hawke and Howard “faced the world with a steady hand, put Australia on the map, and finally let Australians write their own story.” To bolster this point, the article links to a 2007 The Australian interview where Abbott talks about the “freedom that came with the floating of the dollar” under Hawke and the “security that came with the 2004 intervention” under Howard.

2. Hawke’s Economic Revolution: The Foundation of Independence

The profile spends a good deal of space on the economic reforms introduced by the Hawke government (1983‑1990). According to Abbott, Hawke’s deregulation of the financial markets, the dismantling of the “salary and wage lock” system, and the 1983 floating of the Australian dollar were the key moves that allowed Australia to “compete on a global level.” The article links to a detailed Australian Financial Review analysis of the “free‑market revolution” that explains how Hawke’s policies created a more resilient economy, increased export competitiveness, and attracted foreign investment that was not contingent on Britain’s or the United States’ economic health.

Abbott cites the Sydney Morning Herald's 1995 feature on Hawke’s “floating dollar” as evidence that Australia “no longer had to wait for the British pound to dictate its monetary policy.” The article stresses that this monetary independence was a prerequisite for the later “national security” arguments Howard would later make about Australia’s role on the world stage.

3. Howard’s “National Identity” Project

Moving forward, the article transitions to the Howard administration (1996‑2007), emphasizing Howard’s attempts to solidify a distinct Australian identity. Abbott argues that Howard’s 2004 “National Service” policy and the “Australia Day” campaign helped re‑center national pride around a uniquely Australian narrative, distinct from Britain and the United States.

The article links to the 2007 ABC News coverage of Howard’s “Australia first” rhetoric and his 2004 Defence White Paper, which outlined Australia’s commitment to the “Indo‑Pacific” and the “Global War on Terror.” Abbott says that Howard’s foreign policy was “about ensuring Australia’s safety and autonomy,” a stance he believes “the current coalition government has failed to uphold.” He further points to Howard’s “free trade deals” with China and the United States as evidence that “Australia could shape its own trade destiny.”

4. The “Freedom” Narrative: A Shared Vision of Sovereignty

The heart of Abbott’s argument is the notion that Hawke and Howard together built a narrative of freedom. The article quotes Abbott’s 2015 speech at the National Press Club, where he said: “The Hawke–Howard era was the moment Australia finally woke up, stopped being a mere pawn of the British Empire and began to write its own story.” The Sky News piece notes that Abbott’s comment was met with both applause and skepticism, as the phrase “the Hawke–Howard era” has historically been used by conservatives to differentiate themselves from “ruling parties” that they claim are too influenced by globalists.

Abbott also references a 2016 The Guardian article that examines how the Hawke–Howard era “helped Australia transition from a dependent colony to a sovereign nation that could set its own rules.” He argues that this transition was not merely economic but also cultural, as Howard’s emphasis on “Australian values” and Hawke’s “social reforms” (such as the 1995 Race Relations Act amendment) created a platform where Australians could define their own identity.

5. Criticisms and Counter‑Narratives

The Sky News profile is balanced by a section that discusses criticisms of the Hawke–Howard era. Some commentators point out that while Hawke’s economic liberalisation did boost growth, it also widened income inequality. Others argue that Howard’s national security measures, particularly the 2003 invasion of Iraq, strained Australia’s relationship with its traditional allies.

The article links to a 2009 Quarterly Journal of Politics piece that critiques Howard’s “Australia First” policy as a veiled form of protectionism. Abbott is quoted in a follow‑up Sydney Morning Herald interview where he counters that “the policy was about protecting Australian jobs, not creating unfair barriers.”

6. Abbott’s Vision for the Future

Finally, the article ties Abbott’s nostalgia back to his own policy agenda. He claims that the same “freedom” that Hawke and Howard fostered should guide the current Liberal‑National coalition. Abbott argues that issues such as immigration policy, constitutional reform, and foreign investment should be governed by Australian interests first, rather than by “globalist” or “multilateral” agendas. He cites his own proposals on “constitutional recognition of Indigenous Australians” and “re‑introducing a national citizenship test” as part of a broader effort to restore “true national sovereignty.”

The article concludes with a reference to a 2024 Sky News debate in which Abbott was asked whether Australia should renegotiate its trade deals. He reiterated that the Hawke–Howard legacy was a blueprint for “autonomous, prosperous, and self‑determined Australia.”

7. Takeaway

In sum, Tony Abbott’s Sky News feature frames the Hawke–Howard era as a transformative period that finally liberated Australia from colonial and global dependencies. By linking Hawke’s economic reforms, Howard’s national identity projects, and a shared narrative of sovereignty, Abbott constructs a story that positions the past as a moral compass for today’s politics. The article, supported by multiple external links to contemporary analyses and historical records, offers readers both a nostalgic look at one of Australia’s most debated periods and a call to revive the principles that he claims brought Australians “back in charge of their own destiny.”