A cost-of-living election: Howard ministers agreed to $4bn in last-minute spending in 2004

John Howard noted that just as it did in 2004, the cost of living remains a pervasive political issue. Photograph: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

The day parliament was dissolved for the 2004 federal election, senior Howard government ministers met to authorise almost $4bn in sweeteners to announce during the election campaign.

A cabinet minute from 31 August 2004 records that three of the biggest spending promises Howard announced in the five ensuing weeks were signed off at that meeting in the government’s final hours.