Selected cabinet records from 2004, released today by the National Archives of Australia, provide insight into the Howard government’s policies domestically, in the region and in the Middle East.
And, for the first time, this cabinet paper release contains records from the national security committee, a powerful subgroup of cabinet. It comprised the prime minister, several senior ministers and heads of major government departments and agencies. A version of the committee still exists today.
Cabinet records are only made public 20 years after the year in which they were created. This year’s release covers 2004, the year the Coalition won their fourth election in a row. The release also illuminates how the Howard government handled issues such as the Iraq war, housing affordability, climate policy and drought.
