New cabinet papers reveal how Australia navigated crisis, conflict and change

Newly released cabinet papers from 2005 reveal how the Howard government grappled with overlapping national and global crises. The documents detail early warnings of a possible pandemic, internal caution over Australia’s military role in Afghanistan, and deliberations behind WorkChoices and offshore asylum processing. They also capture responses to the Boxing Day tsunami and domestic unrest, offering fresh insight into decisions that continue to shape Australia today.