John Gorton vs John Howard

Gorton was elected to the Australian Senate as a Liberal Party member. He represented Victoria and quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a prominent figure in the party.

Gorton became Prime Minister on 10 January 1968 after being elected Liberal Party leader. He served until March 1971, focusing on national development and foreign policy.

Gorton resigned as Prime Minister on 10 March 1971 after losing a confidence vote in the Liberal Party. He was succeeded by William McMahon, ending his tenure amid internal party divisions.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, Howard's government introduced strict gun control laws, including a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons and a mandatory buyback scheme. The reforms significantly reduced gun violence in Australia.

Howard led the Liberal-National coalition to a landslide victory in the 1996 federal election, defeating Paul Keating's Labor government. His campaign focused on economic reform, family values, and a more conservative social agenda.

Howard's government introduced a 10% Goods and Services Tax, replacing the previous wholesale sales tax. The GST was a major tax reform that broadened the tax base and provided revenue for state governments, though it was politically controversial.

Howard committed Australian troops to the US-led invasion of Iraq, citing weapons of mass destruction. The decision was highly controversial and led to large public protests, but Howard argued it was necessary for global security.

Howard lost the 2007 federal election to Kevin Rudd's Labor Party, ending his 11-year tenure as prime minister. He also lost his own seat of Bennelong, becoming only the second sitting prime minister to lose his seat.