John Hewson
AustraliapoliticianMaleb. 19464.5Global Dominance: 0.01%John Hewson is an Australian politician and former leader of the Liberal Party who notably ran for Prime Minister in the 1993 federal election. His campaign became infamous after a televised incident where he struggled to explain how his proposed Goods and Services Tax (GST) would apply to a birthday cake, highlighting his difficulties in connecting with everyday Australians. Despite his efforts, he was ultimately defeated by incumbent Prime Minister Paul Keating, and his inability to effectively communicate policies became a pivotal moment in Australian political history.
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John Hewson is referenced as someone who lost an election trying to implement bold reform.
Most Australians don’t want housing affordability to be fixed, and politicians know itAustralia· 2026-06-20
John Hewson lost the unlosable election in 1993 by thinking it was an advantage to seem smart.
Hanson is right about political correctness. It stops us calling her stupidAustralia· 2026-06-20
John Hewson lost an unlosable election because of campaigning on Fightback!, a 650-page policy package brimming with policy.
Politics: Australia’s lost quarter-centuryAustralia· 2025-12-12
John Hewson lost the 'unlosable election' on the GST issue five years before John Howard's election.
It’s a good time for Anthony Albanese. Now he needs to get his timing rightAustralia· 2025-08-04
John Hewson was the opponent Keating unexpectedly defeated in the federal election.
US leader gets a flying palace. Paul Keating was doomed to jalopy in the skyAustralia· 2025-05-23
John Hewson of the Coalition lost what had been described as the 'unlosable' election at the time.
Veteran ABC election analyst Antony Green hosts final broadcast
United Kingdom· 2025-05-03
John Hewson's complete tax package made perfect sense to him as an economist but did not resonate with the majority of voters.
Will Mark Carney appeal to voters as an outsider?Australia· 2025-04-26
The generation of Liberals currently in positions of influence were forever scarred by the 1993 election, when John Hewson tried to replace Paul Keating.
Coalition still has time to winAustralia· 2025-04-20
John Hewson is referenced in relation to his loss in the 1993 election due to detailed policy discussions.
Too close to call? Antony Green’s surprising verdict on his last federal electionAustralia· 2025-04-19
John Hewson is a former Liberal leader and a member of the Climate 200 advisory council.
Seven West Media in underpayment scandalAustralia· 2025-04-17
John Hewson was another Liberal opposition leader advised by Georgiou.
Former Liberal MP for Kooyong and ‘conscience of the Liberal Party’ dies at 77Australia· 2025-04-04
John Hewson, in the 1993 campaign, assured by just about everyone that he would beat Paul Keating.
Albanese, Dutton should learn from campaign mistakes of the pastAustralia· 2025-03-29
John Hewson is a former leader of the federal Liberal Party.
young climate activist leads this year’s Sunday Life TrailblazersAustralia· 2025-03-08
John Hewson had a cringe-making failure on TV to explain how his GST would apply to a birthday cake.
The campaign trail and what has gone wrong for leadersAustralia· 2025-02-20