Skip to main content

Home

Main navigation

  • Explore the collection
    • Search the collection: RecordSearch
      • What's in the collection
      • Defence and war service records
      • First Australians
      • Immigration and citizenship
      • Cabinet
      • Intelligence and security
      • Prime ministers
      • Search for people
      • Visit our other websites
      • #ArchivesAtHome
      • Stories from the archives
  • Help with your research
      • Getting started
      • What's in the collection
      • Using the collection
      • International movement records
      • Research centres
      • Research guides
      • Research grants and scholarships
      • Research agents
      • Ask us about the collection
  • Students and teachers
      • School visits
      • Learning resources
      • Competitions and special programs
  • Information management
      • Getting started
      • Building trust in the public record
      • Public release schedule
      • Ask for advice
      • Information governance
      • Build data interoperability
      • Check-up survey
      • Legislation
      • Manage information assets
      • GAIN Australia
      • Standards
      • Metadata
      • Records authorities
      • Learning and skills
      • Information Awareness Month 2023
  • Visit us
      • Events and exhibitions
      • Research centres
      • Our locations
      • Cafe Constitution
      • Venue hire
      • Contact us
  • About us
      • What we do
      • Support us
      • Employment
      • Who we are
      • Partnerships
      • Volunteer
      • Our services
      • Members
      • Media and publications
      • Contact us
  • Toggle search
  • Toggle menu

Offscreen Menu

Menu

MAIN MENU

  • Explore the collection
    • What's in the collection
    • Defence and war service records
    • First Australians
    • Immigration and citizenship
    • Cabinet
    • Intelligence and security
    • Prime ministers
    • Search for people
    • Visit our other websites
    • #ArchivesAtHome
    • Stories from the archives
  • Help with your research
    • Getting started
    • What's in the collection
    • Using the collection
    • International movement records
    • Research centres
    • Research guides
    • Research grants and scholarships
    • Research agents
    • Ask us about the collection
  • Students and teachers
    • School visits
    • Learning resources
    • Competitions and special programs
  • Information management
    • Getting started
    • Building trust in the public record
    • Public release schedule
    • Ask for advice
    • Information governance
    • Build data interoperability
    • Check-up survey
    • Legislation
    • Manage information assets
    • GAIN Australia
    • Standards
    • Metadata
    • Records authorities
    • Learning and skills
    • Information Awareness Month 2023
  • Visit us
    • Events and exhibitions
    • Research centres
    • Our locations
    • Cafe Constitution
    • Venue hire
    • Contact us
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Support us
    • Employment
    • Who we are
    • Partnerships
    • Volunteer
    • Our services
    • Members
    • Media and publications
    • Contact us

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that the National Archives' website and collection contain the names, images and voices of people who have died.

Some records include terms and views that are not appropriate today. They reflect the period in which they were created and are not the views of the National Archives.

This is a portrait of Prime Minister John Howard.

Breadcrumb

  1. Home
  2. Explore the collection
  3. Australia's prime ministers
  4. John Howard
  5. John Howard's partner: Janette Howard

John Howard's partner: Janette Howard

John Howard was the Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007.

A teacher and member of the Vaucluse branch of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Janette Parker met John Winston Howard through the Liberal Party. Since their marriage in 1971, party colleagues have always been important in their social circle.

Janette and John Howard with Admiral Chris Barrie at Parliament House for the Australian of the Year Award.

Janette and John Howard with Admiral Chris Barrie at Parliament House for the Australian of the Year Award to General Peter Cosgrove (at rear, centre), 26 January 2001. Others include Des Mueller (rear talking to General Cosgrove) and Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer with Air Vice Marshal Doug Riding (at far left). AUSPIC

The most public aspects of the role of prime ministerial spouse are ceremonial functions, such as accompanying the Prime Minister on official tours, and duties at home as official host. As well as official visits overseas, Mrs Howard hosted many state visitors to Australia, including 2 United States ‘First Ladies’, Hillary Clinton in 1996 and Laura Bush in 2007, Mrs Kim Dae-jung, wife of the president of the Republic of Korea in 1999, and Queen Elizabeth II in 2000.

Mrs Howard expressed a preference for a low profile as prime ministerial spouse, but this neither relieved her from the duties of the role, nor prevented journalists observing the Howards as a political team. As prime ministerial spouse, Howard maintained her interest in the party organisation and continued to attend federal council meetings as a keen observer.

The role of prime ministerial spouse also includes arranging and hosting social events at the official residences – The Lodge in Canberra and Kirribilli House in Sydney – and spousal activities when international government forums are hosted by Australia. It was Mrs Howard’s duty to arrange programs for the spouses of delegates who attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Queensland in March 2002 and Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meetings in Sydney in 2007.

John Howard, Janette Howard and their children at the launch of the Liberal Party campaign for the 1987 federal election.

John Howard, Janette Howard and their children at the launch of the Liberal Party campaign for the 1987 federal election. NAA: A6135, K30/9/87/25

Mrs Howard was active in all of Howard’s election campaigns. If, as Pru Goward, co-biographer of John Howard, observed, Mrs Howard ‘lives and breathes’ politics, she stood within the tradition started by Jane Barton in 1901, although variously interpreted since. The role of prime ministerial spouse is to fulfil exacting public duties, but to do so without diverting the public gaze from the prime minister and his government.

Sources

  • Barnett, David and Pru Goward, John Howard: Prime Minister, Viking, Melbourne, 1997.
  • Henderson, Anne, ‘Highs and lows as a political spouse’, Canberra Times, 1 March 2002.
  • Linnell, Garry, ‘Silent partner’, Sydney Morning Herald, Good Weekend, 2 June 2001.

In this section: John Howard

  • Fast facts
  • Timeline
  • Before office
  • Elections
  • During office
  • After office
  • Partner
  • Key people
  • Records

Want some help?

Our research tips and guides could help you find what you need

Help with your research

Explore Prime Ministers

Portrait of Paul Keating

Paul Keating

1991–1996

Colour portrait photograph of Kevin Rudd supplied by Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Kevin Rudd

2007–2010
2013

Colour portrait of Julia Gillard supplied by Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Julia Gillard

2010–2013

Old Parliament House, Canberra

All prime ministers

Explore the stories of each prime minister's time in office through official and personal records held by the National Archives.

Acknowledgement of Country

National Archives of Australia acknowledges the traditional owners and custodians of Country throughout Australia and acknowledges their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to the people, their cultures and Elders past, present and emerging.

Connect with us

  • Facebook Facebook
  • Twitter Twitter
  • YouTube YouTube
  • Instagram Instagram

Subscribe to our newsletter

Site map

  • Contact us

    • +61 2 6212 3600
    • archives@naa.gov.au
    • ABN: 36 889 228 992
  • For researchers

    • RecordSearch
    • What's in the collection
    • Using the collection
    • Ask us a question about our records
    • Getting started with your research
    • Research guides
    • Grants and scholarships
    • Our other websites
  • For government

    • Agency Service Centre
    • Check-up survey
    • Building trust in the public record policy
    • Getting started with information management
    • Information governance
    • Records authorities

    For students & teachers

    • School programs
    • Plan a school visit
    • Competitions and special programs
    • Learning resources
  • Shop

    • Browse our products

    Visit us

    • Admission to the Archives is free
    • Events and exhibitions
    • Research centres
    • Our locations
  • About us

    • What we do
    • Our organisation
    • Our services
    • Our history
    • Partnerships
    • Work for us
National Archives of Australia
  • Privacy
  • Freedom of information
  • Copyright
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
National Archives of Australia