If given the opportunity to ask the Prime Minister one question, what would that be?

Question

One of the best things about being Prime Minister is meeting people from across the country and learning about the issues affecting their daily lives. It gives me a chance to hear your stories and respond directly to your questions and concerns. I'd like to give you the opportunity to do the same thing through Yahoo!7 Answers.

If you'd like to ask me a question, leave your answer below and I'll come back with some responses. I look forward to hearing from you.

– John Howard, Prime Minister of Australia

For more information see the Answers Team blog - http://au.blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-txN._0woRKfpYuTJw9rObY.WmgiUW5xm?tag=election2007

To see my video responses go to - http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=248153&ch=3708804&src=y7news

Answer 1

What is the real reason you sent our troops to Iraq?

Answer 2

To John Howard
What u Doing to Sydney Australia u Are Making Sydney Into a Big Mess As From Friday 7Th September 2007 Until Monday 10Th September 2007 For The APEC Confence
At The Opera House In Circle Quay West The Opera Hose Belongs To The People of Sydney & The World Where Tourist Can Come & Have A look Around Sydney Australia
The Opera House Doe Not Belong To Polly It Australia Place
Ok Mr John Howard U Are Not Going To Be PM From October Comminwealth Election Have Fun Mr Howard

Answer 3

Not being a huge fan of labour or liberal i can't help but be influenced against you by the current IR laws that were introduced, my husbands company over the last three years have been playing the whole you got a 3% pay increase yearly and should be happy for the EBA, as apposed to the facts that three years ago without the 3% yearly increase my husband was doing more hours and earning more then 10% on what he earns now! I stay at home and raise our children which seems to be something as an Australian i am punished for, you find great joy in handing our payments of $400.00 a fortnight to people who can't be bothered getting a job and as a married parent i get $80.00 a fortnight even though i have extra mouths to feed! I get the impression that if the government had it's own way you would have every child in childcare! Why have kids if you are not going to raise them! And what were you thinking with this baby bonus??? I am very unclear as to why you did not set an age limit on it like, no bonus unless you are 21 years of age or over, all you have promoted is children giving birth to more children, and most of which are on single parent payments, that means more money from our schools and hospitals!! Surely someone should have thought this plan through! I wish you luck if you can win the next election and hope that any changes made are to the better of this country and not taking it down further! Sometimes better the devil you know then the one you don't but be assured i am still undecided on my voting ways and until either you or Kevin rudd start giving the Australian people some reason other then the other party got it wrong, the only real loser will be Australia!!!

Answer 4

Dear Prime Minister Howard, I'm A British Citizen With An Australian Fiance. My Question To You Sir Is: Is There Any Particular Way In Which I Can Better My Chances When It Comes To Applying For Immigration Status. I Did My Part In November 2004 When I Came To Australia At The Behest Of The Crown Prosecution Service To Give Evidence In For The Crown In An Armed Robbery Trial That I Witnessed During My Previous Stay In 2002/03.

Answer 5

I stay at home and raise our children which seems to be something as an Australian i am punished for, you find great joy in handing our payments of $400.00 a fortnight to people who can't be bothered getting a job and as a married parent i get $80.00 a fortnight even though i have extra mouths to feed! I get the impression that if the government had it's own way you would have every child in childcare! Why have kids if you are not going to raise them! And what were you thinking with this baby bonus??? I am very unclear as to why you did not set an age limit on it like, no bonus unless you are 21 years of age or over, all you have promoted is children giving birth to more children, and most of which are on single parent payments, that means more money from our schools and hospitals!! Surely someone should have thought this plan through! I wish you luck if you can win the next election and hope that any changes made are to the better of this country and not taking it down further! Sometimes better the devil you know then the one you don't but be assured i am still undecided on my voting ways and until either you or Kevin rudd start giving the Australian people some reason other then the other party got it wrong, the only real loser will be Australia!!!

Answer 6

John

Given that Australia is a place where people are treated fairly and we look after our own.. As you are the Prime Minister and the best leaders lead by example; why don't you for go the pay rise of 14% you have recieved over the last 18 months and direct it you the pensioners of this country? At the same time encouage all other politicians to do the same. I know you will say that the remuneration tribunal made the decission on the pay rise, but give the amount you are paid and given that you came into politics to serve the nation and not for finanical gain would it not be the moral and fair thing to do so a the less fortune it in our land can have a little bit more.

Thank you for you time

Regards James

Answer 7

Australian i am punished for, you find great joy in handing our payments of $400.00 a fortnight to people who can't be bothered getting a job and as a married parent i get $80.00 a fortnight even though i have extra mouths to feed! I get the impression that if the government had it's own way you would have every child in childcare! Why have kids if you are not going to raise them! And what were you thinking with this baby bonus??? I am very unclear as to why you did not set an age limit on it like, no bonus unless you are 21 years of age or over, all you have promoted is children giving birth to more children, and most of which are on single parent payments, that means more money from our schools and hospitals!! Surely someone should have thought this plan through! I wish you luck if you can win the next election and hope that any changes made are to the better of this country and not taking it down further! Sometimes better the devil you know then the one you don't but be assured i am still undecided on my voting ways and until either you or Kevin rudd start giving the Australian people some reason other then the other party got it wrong, the only real loser will be Australia!!!

Answer 8

you find great joy in handing our payments of $400.00 a fortnight to people who can't be bothered getting a job and as a married parent i get $80.00 a fortnight even though i have extra mouths to feed! I get the impression that if the government had it's own way you would have every child in childcare! Why have kids if you are not going to raise them! And what were you thinking with this baby bonus??? I am very unclear as to why you did not set an age limit on it like, no bonus unless you are 21 years of age or over, all you have promoted is children giving birth to more children, and most of which are on single parent payments, that means more money from our schools and hospitals!! Surely someone should have thought this plan through! I wish you luck if you can win the next election and hope that any changes made are to the better of this country and not taking it down further! Sometimes better the devil you know then the one you don't but be assured i am still undecided on my voting ways and until either you or Kevin rudd start giving the Australian people some reason other then the other party got it wrong, the only real loser will be Australia!!!

Answer 9

Hi Mr Prime Minister,
I am finding it hard to find the right question to ask you cause there is so many problem with our country. I am a very proud Australian born and breed and I think we are losing a lot of what Australian are about.
There are many things I would like to ask you, Why are our grocers are increasing and the fuel prices also and why is the interest rate rising and why our roads in such horrible state. Why is there so many problem with our public health system that seem to be in every state of Australia. Why is accommodation getting more and more expensive for the average Australian. Why are we having a water problem in the whole country. It really seems like thing are just getting worse and not better and you can't blame everything on the mineral boom there is plenty of more industry than just mining that is keeping the country going. I could keep going on and on but it is really pointless cause you won't look at this you would have assigned somebody for the job and if you do reply it won't be words coming from your mouth which I think is sad cause you are the leader of the best country in the world which is slowly deteriorating slowing before our eyes

Answer 10

Prime Minister Howard,

I recently signed an AWA. In the AWA, there were several example figures which I assumed to be related to my salary. I was wrong in this assumption, but given that the figures were based on the number quoted to me as my salary, I do not think that it was an unreasonable assumption. I'm not dissatisfied with my job - I have been blessed with friendly and welcoming coworkers. Nevertheless, my purse-strings are somewhat tighter than I had thought from reading my contract. I am also working 5 hours a week more than my contract would have indicated.

The new Industrial Relations system frees Australia's economy to be more flexible, which allows the value of our dollar to grow. The problem that faces me as a member of the working populace is that I am not familiar with contract law, not being a law graduate. I am a recent university graduate of a different profession and was simply desparate to find a job. I now usually have around 4 hours per day to perform my daily household chores and relax. Usually the latter does not happen, and the former are largely deferred until the weekend.

How can this AWA system benefit me and my future in a profession of mediocrity? Will I be able to afford to retire at the age of 65? Why is it that even with a university education, my options of buying a house in a primary or secondary city in Australia are restricted to scrounging every cent I own and hoping that interest rates do not continue to rise? Why is 80% of Australia's wealth with 10% of its people, and how did the course of these peoples lives entitle them to such an incredibly more lavish lifestyle than anything I could ever hope to achieve?

Yours by virtue of birth into this country,
R. Palson

Answer 11

Mr Prime minister Why is it that in such a lucky country are so many people doing it so tough with the ever widening gap between the haves and the have not's. Such a thing is dividing communities way out of proportion to what is should be and there is no longer the Fare go attitude any more. You advocate working past retirement age but there are very few employers that are willing to give a mature aged person a start or even a look at there qualifications. Only much lesser types of work that can be very poor paying so we can all become working poor.???