About
“He who knows only his own side of the case knows little of that. His reasons may be good, and no one may have been able to refute them. But if he is equally unable to refute the reasons on the opposite side, if he does not so much as know what they are, he has no ground for preferring either opinion… Nor is it enough that he should hear the opinions of adversaries from his own teachers, presented as they state them, and accompanied by what they offer as refutations. He must be able to hear them from persons who actually believe them…he must know them in their most plausible and persuasive form.”
― John Stuart Mill
About John
John Anderson is a sixth-generation farmer and grazier from New South Wales, who spent 19 years from 1989 in the Australian Parliament.
He served as a senior Cabinet minister in the reformist government led by John Howard (1996 to 2005), one of the most successful governments in Australian parliamentary history. This included six years as Leader of the National Party and Deputy Prime Minister.
The Liberal-National Party coalition, with Anderson integral in the process, tackled budget repair and promoted economic growth.Much-needed tax modernisation and shrewd expenditure restraint were among the measures that helped deliver a string of ten out of twelve budget surpluses; unprecedented in the post war era.They delivered an average annual GDP growth rate of 3.6%, restored Australia’s AAA credit rating and saw average household income double between 1994-95 and 2007-08.During their tenure over two million new jobs were created by small and large businesses, and the total number of apprentices in training increased by two-and-a-half fold.
During John’s service, the Coalition was also responsible for the Work for the Dole and Green Corps social programmes, and the New Schools Policy – initiatives maintained and enhanced by subsequent governments.
Anderson oversaw coordinated transport reform through Auslink, which initiated a vastly improved and integrated national transport infrastructure; the National Water Initiative, which provided for interstate water policy agreement and security; and various other social & economic gains for regional Australia.He was a long-standing member of the Cabinet National Security Committee, overseeing a significant strengthening of Australia’s national security through an increase in defence spending and a substantial boost to defence-ready troop numbers.
As Acting Prime Minister at the time, he steered the nation through the shattering terrorist attacks on the United States on 11th September 2001.He was also intimately involved in the decision to provide $1 billion in aid following the 2004 Indonesian tsunami, and counts it as one of the government’s greatest achievements.
Whilst in office, Anderson, known as a man of simple Christian faith, sought to respect the dictum that another’s right to speak should always be defended, even if he disagreed with them.
In a political environment often marred by partisan animosity, John Anderson was unique in the respect and admiration he engendered across the parliamentary spectrum.This was reflected in the universal generosity of remarks from both sides of the House when he left politics in 2005.Kim Beazley, his political opponent and leader of the opposition at the time, remarked, “I must say I am deeply sorry to see the honourable gentleman resign his position… I think that the Deputy Prime Minister has made a name for himself in this parliament as a man of great heart —a good-hearted family man.”The then Prime Minister John Howard extolled, “I have not met a person with greater integrity in public life.”
John was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 2011, and a Companion (AC) in 2022. As an esteemed elder statesman in Australia, his commentary is often sought out. He has recently been published on topics such as civic freedoms, global food security, modern slavery and the economy. He currently farms on the family property whilst also being active through various directorships, in public speaking and in the not-for-profit sector.