John Howard served as Prime Minister from 1996 until 2007 , the second-longest prime ministerial term after Robert Menzies . One of the first programs instigated by the Howard Government was a nationwide gun control scheme , following a mass shooting at Port Arthur . The government sought to reduce Australia 's government deficit and introduced industrial relations reforms , particularly as regards efficiency on the waterfront . After the 1996 election , Howard and treasurer Peter Costello proposed a goods and services tax ( GST ) which they successfully took to the electorate in 1998 . In 1999 , Australia led a United Nations force into East Timor to help establish democracy and independence for that nation , following political violence
mass shooting at Port Arthur
Port Arthur massacre (Australia)
History of Australia since 1945