View source for John Hewson

{{Short description|Former Australian politician}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Tone|date=November 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = 
| name                = John Hewson
| honorific-suffix    = [[Member of the Order of Australia|AM]]
| image               = John Hewson joins -StopAdani National Doorknock in Wentworth credit Emily Contador-Kelsall (45077478092) (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Hewson in 2018
| order               = [[List of Australian Leaders of the Opposition|Leader of the Opposition]]
| term_start          = 3 April 1990
| term_end            = 23 May 1994
| primeminister       = [[Bob Hawke]]<br />[[Paul Keating]]
| deputy              = [[Peter Reith]]<br />[[Michael Wooldridge (politician)|Michael Wooldridge]]
| predecessor         = [[Andrew Peacock]]
| successor           = [[Alexander Downer]]
| order1              = [[Leader of the Liberal Party of Australia|Leader of the Liberal Party]]
| term_start1         = 3 April 1990
| term_end1           = 23 May 1994
| deputy1             = Peter Reith<br />Michael Wooldridge
| predecessor1        = Andrew Peacock
| successor1          = Alexander Downer
| constituency_MP2    = [[Division of Wentworth|Wentworth]]
| parliament2         = Australian
| predecessor2        = [[Peter Coleman]]
| successor2          = [[Andrew Thomson (Australian politician)|Andrew Thomson]]
| term_start2         = 11 July 1987
| term_end2           = 28 February 1995
| birth_name          = John Robert Hewson
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=y|1946|10|28}}
| birth_place         = [[Carlton, New South Wales]], Australia
| spouse              = {{plainlist|
* {{marriage|Margaret Deaves<br />|1967|1985|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|[[Carolyn Hewson|Carolyn Somerville]]<br />|1988|2004|end=divorced}}
* {{marriage|Jessica Wilson<br />|2007}}
}}
| children            = 5
| party               = [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] (until 2019)
| education           = [[Kogarah High School]]
| alma_mater          = {{plainlist|
*[[University of Sydney]]
*[[University of Regina]]
*[[Johns Hopkins University]] }}
| occupation          = Economist<br />([[Reserve Bank of Australia]])<br />Bank [[director (company)|director]]<br />([[Macquarie Group|Macquarie Bank]])
| profession          = Financier<br />businessman<br />politician
}}

'''John Robert Hewson''' [[Member of the Order of Australia|AM]] (born 28 October 1946) is an Australian former politician who served as leader of the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] from 1990 to 1994. He led the [[Coalition (Australia)|Liberal-National Coalition]] to defeat at the [[1993 Australian federal election]].

Hewson was born in [[Sydney]], New South Wales, and earned a [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] in [[Economics]] from [[Johns Hopkins University]]. He has also attained degrees from the [[University of Sydney]] and the [[University of Regina]]. Before entering politics, Hewson worked as an economist for the [[Reserve Bank of Australia]], an economic advisor to the [[Fraser government]], a business journalist, and a director of [[Macquarie Bank]].

In [[1987 Australian federal election|1987]], Hewson was elected to the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]]. He was appointed to the [[Shadow Cabinet of Australia|shadow cabinet]] in 1988, serving under [[John Howard]] and [[Andrew Peacock]]. After Peacock lost the [[1990 Australian federal election|1990 election]], Hewson was elected leader of the Liberal Party in his place, thus becoming [[Leader of the Opposition (Australia)|Leader of the Opposition]]. In 1991, he launched the ''[[Fightback! (policy)|Fightback!]]'' policy manifesto, which proposed a series of major economic reforms with a [[Goods and services tax (Australia)|goods and services tax]] (GST) as its centrepiece.

[[Party platform|Political platforms]] in the 1993 federal election focused mainly on economic policy, especially on how Australia should respond to the [[Early 1990s recession in Australia|early 1990s recession]]. The [[Australian Labor Party|Labor Party]] – led by [[Paul Keating]] – had been in power for 10 years at that point. Many polls suggested a Coalition victory, however Labor was able to mount a successful campaign, with the party's net increase in seats allowing Keating to remain [[Prime Minister of Australia|Prime Minister]]. Hewson continued on as Liberal leader for another year, losing [[Liberal Party of Australia leadership spill, 1994|a leadership spill]] to [[Alexander Downer]] in 1994. He left [[Parliament of Australia|parliament]] the following year. Since then, Hewson has continued to be a public expert in business and political commentary. He resigned his Liberal Party membership in 2019, having been a critic of its policy direction for a number of years, particularly on [[climate change]].

==Early life==
Hewson was born at Baroda Private Hospital in [[Carlton, New South Wales|Carlton]], [[Sydney]], [[New South Wales]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Hewson: A Portrait|author=Christine Wallace|author-link=Christine Wallace|year=1993|publisher=Pan Macmillan Publishers Australia|page=3}}</ref> He was the first of four children born to Eileen Isabella (née Tippett) and Donald Hewson. His mother was born in [[England]] and arrived in Australia at the age of six.<ref>Wallace (1993), p. 4.</ref> His father worked as a [[Fitter (occupation)|fitter]] and turner. Hewson spent his early years in Carlton, where his parents lived with his paternal grandmother and his father's three sisters.<ref>Wallace (1993), p. 5.</ref> His father eventually saved enough money to buy a house in [[Beverly Hills, New South Wales|Beverly Hills]].<ref>Wallace (1993), p. 12.</ref> Hewson attended Carlton Primary School and Beverly Hills North Primary School before attending [[Kogarah High School]], graduating in 1963. He subsequently completed a [[Bachelor of Economics]] degree at the [[University of Sydney]] in 1967.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Hawke Government: A Critical Retrospective |chapter=Hawke's Opposition: From Malcolm Fraser to John Hewson |author=Henderson, Gerard |editor=Ryan, Susan |editor-link=Susan Ryan |editor2=Bramston, Troy |year=2003 |publisher=Pluto Press Australia |isbn=1-86403-264-2 |author-link=Gerard Henderson}}</ref> He then completed a [[master's degree]] at the [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]], [[Canada]] campus of the [[University of Saskatchewan]] (which since 1974 has been the [[University of Regina]]) and a second master's and a doctorate in economics at [[Johns Hopkins University]] in [[Baltimore]]. In 1967, he married Margaret Deaves.<ref name=deaves>{{Cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm2267203/bio/|title=John Hewson Biography|publisher=IMDb}}</ref>

Upon returning to Australia, Hewson worked as an economist for the [[Reserve Bank of Australia]]. From 1976 to 1983 he was employed as an economic advisor to two successive [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] treasurers, [[Phillip Lynch]] and [[John Howard]]. During this period he developed an interest in politics and became determined to enter politics himself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indigenouschamber.org.au/|title=Home|website=Australian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180313234525/https://www.indigenouschamber.org.au/ |archive-date=13 March 2018}}</ref> While he espoused strong liberal views, he was critical of what he saw as unconvincing and inconsistent Liberal Party economic policies.<ref>{{cite web | title=John Hewson | website=Q+A | date=2003-10-10 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/qanda/john-hewson/10644262 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref> He was a supporter of some of the economic policies of [[Margaret Thatcher]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/uncovering-the-secret-thatcher-files-what-britain-thought-about-australia/yw84igbp5 |quote= while a much longer tribute from then Opposition Leader Dr John Hewson praised her "revolution of ideas".  |title=Uncovering the secret Thatcher files: What Britain thought about Australia |publisher=SBS News |date=30 December 2016 |first=Brett |last=Mason |archive-date=13 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230913071345/https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/uncovering-the-secret-thatcher-files-what-britain-thought-about-australia/yw84igbp5 |url-status=live |access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref>

After the defeat of the Fraser government in the [[1983 Australian federal election|1983 election]], Hewson went into business journalism and became a director of a private bank, the [[Macquarie Bank]].<ref name="SHWilmoth">{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/04/10/1081326978084.html |work=[[The Sun-Herald]]  |title=The man we knew as Hewson |date=10 April 2004 |access-date=28 August 2010 |last=Wilmoth |first=P}}</ref> After divorcing Margaret Deaves in 1985, Hewson would go on to marry Carolyn Somerville in 1988. Deaves claims that Hewson left her because he was under the impression she would not be able to cope with the responsibilities of public life as the wife of a prominent public servant despite her working to support him while he was studying overseas.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web | title=Hewson 'supported' by former wife while studying – The Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 – 1995) – 30 Aug 1991 | website=Trove | date=1991-08-30 | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122380850 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref><ref name="SHWilmoth"/>

==Politics==
Hewson was elected to the [[Australian House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] for the affluent Sydney [[Electorates in Australia|electorate]] of [[Division of Wentworth|Wentworth]] in the [[1987 Australian federal election|1987 federal election]]. Before the election he was told he would have to give up his [[Ferrari]] to be pre-selected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=UkslAAAAIBAJ&pg=4026%2C2908665|title=Overnight sensation|work=[[The Sunday Age]]|date=22 October 1989|author=Gordon, Michael|location=Melbourne}}</ref> However, Hewson kept his car despite it attracting controversy. He entered Parliament at a time when there was a leadership vacuum among the conservatives. The Coalition, led by John Howard, lost the 1987 election, but a majority of Liberal MPs voted to keep him as leader over his predecessor Andrew Peacock.

Hewson was Howard's advisor when Howard was Treasurer and the two formed a friendship. However their friendship hit a low point when Hewson won Liberal preselection for Wentworth. After Hewson's preselection, Howard was seen talking to Dr. Jane Munro, who like Hewson was also an academic and was Hewson's main rival for the preselection. Hewson then angrily accused Howard of supporting Munro for the preselection instead of Hewson. Government and Opposition MPs who are new to Parliament usually take their place on the backbench but Hewson believed he was an exception to this due to his personal history with Howard. Hewson was therefore disappointed not to be offered a shadow portfolio by Howard.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133338929?browse=ndp%3Abrowse%2Ftitle%2FC%2Ftitle%2F11%2F1995%2F02%2F28%2Fpage%2F14181026%2Farticle%2F133338929 | title=Dazzling meteor that disappeared | newspaper=The Canberra Times | date=28 February 1995 }}</ref>

Hewson instead sat on the backbench until September 1988 when Howard appointed Hewson as shadow finance minister. In May 1989, when [[Andrew Peacock]] replaced Howard as Leader after a challenge in which Hewson voted for Howard, Hewson became shadow treasurer.<ref>{{cite book | title=John Winston Howard | publisher=Melbourne University | isbn=978-0-522-85522-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QuTmxhQWUwIC&dq=peacock+hewson&pg=PA171 | access-date=2020-12-17| last1=Onselen | first1=Peter Van | last2=Errington | first2=Wayne | year=2008 }}</ref> Even prior to Howard's removal, when Peacock was the shadow treasurer, Hewson had been seen as the real shadow treasurer.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p5VVAAAAIBAJ&pg=2980,1614012&dq=john+hewson+shadow&hl=en|title=Political shadow boxing|newspaper=[[The Age]]|page=2|date=3 March 1989|access-date=7 December 2014|location=Melbourne|author=Millington, Bob}}</ref> In the lead-up to the [[1990 Australian federal election|1990 election]], Hewson, the trained economist, was seen to have performed well against the then-treasurer [[Paul Keating]]. In December 1989, Hewson claimed that Keating was reluctant to debate with him on the economy.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=T8lUAAAAIBAJ&pg=3099,4472874&dq=shadow+treasurer+hewson&hl=en|title=A shadow treasurer clocks up points|newspaper=[[The Age]]|page=5|date=5 December 1989|access-date=7 December 2014|location=Melbourne|author=Weiniger, Peter}}</ref>

===Election to Leadership of the Opposition===
When the Coalition were defeated at the 1990 federal elections, Peacock quit and supported Hewson, who was elected to the Liberal leadership despite having been in Parliament for only three years, as Hewson had been one of the top Liberal players in the 1990 election campaign.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.liberals.net/johnhoward.htm|website=Liberals.Net|publisher=Australian Media Pty Ltd|access-date=13 July 2013|title=John Howard. People of the Liberal Party of Australia|archive-date=11 May 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120511040135/http://www.liberals.net/johnhoward.htm}}</ref> In the contest for leadership, Hewson defeated [[Peter Reith]] 62 votes to 13.<ref name=poliquant>{{cite web|url=http://poliquant.com/major-party-leadership-ballots-since-1966/ |title=Major Party Leadership Ballots since 1966 |access-date=17 August 2012 |url-status=bot: unknown |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140107042840/http://poliquant.com/major-party-leadership-ballots-since-1966/ |archive-date= 7 January 2014 }}</ref> Reith was then elected deputy leader over [[David Jull]], with Hewson making Reith Shadow Treasurer. One of the reasons for Hewson's election to the leadership was that Peacock wanted to prevent Howard from regaining leadership. Another reason for Hewson's election was a desire by the Liberal party to have generational change, according to John Howard, who believed Hewson was not ready to be leader.<ref name="auto3">"Politics will get you". The Liberals. Episode 5. 1995.</ref> Previously, Hewson had endorsed Peacock as his deputy, which created much resentment for him among Howard's supporters. Peacock, however, had no interest in becoming deputy leader again and withdrew his candidacy.<ref>Kelly, Paul, ''The End of Certainty''</ref> In 1991, Hewson's ex-wife Margaret declared on ''[[60 Minutes (Australian TV program)|60 minutes]]'' that she would vote for him at the next election, as did his son Tim, who claimed Hewson had placed politics before his family and that was why his father had divorced Margaret. Margaret claimed the first six months of her divorce was the hardest and she had not realised someone else was on the scene.<ref>{{cite web | title=Son tells how it didn't exactly make father's day – The Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 – 1995) – 30 Sep 1991 | website=Trove | date=1991-09-30 | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122387552 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref><ref name="auto4"/> Hewson's shadow ministry included newly elected Member for [[Division of Higgins|Higgins]] [[Peter Costello]]; Hewson had told Costello he would not be a Minister in a Hewson government, a joke Costello would relay years later.<ref>{{cite book | title=The March of the Patriots | date=April 2014 | publisher=Melbourne University | isbn=978-0-522-85941-6 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jQSODwAAQBAJ&q=hewson+back+bench | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref> In 1991, Hewson spoke at the [[Australian Council of Social Service]]s, where he stated that the organisation was reinforcing the biblical reminder that "the Poor are with us forever" by making welfare provisions larger and otherwise want to acquire more money for welfare and making bureaucracies larger.<ref>{{cite journal | url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10349952.1998.11876679 | doi=10.1080/10349952.1998.11876679 | title=From Keynes to Hayek: The Social Welfare Philosophy of the Liberal Party of Australia, 1983–1997 | date=1998 | last1=Mendes | first1=Philip | journal=Policy and Society | volume=15 | pages=65–87 }}</ref> This caused controversy for Hewson, who came to be seen as harsh and untrustworthy in the mind of Australian reporter [[Laurie Oakes]].<ref name="7.30 Report, 23 May 1994">7.30 Report, 23 May 1994</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Manning|first=Haydon|title=Issues that swung elections: the 'unlosable election' of 1993 still resonates loudly|url=http://theconversation.com/issues-that-swung-elections-the-unlosable-election-of-1993-still-resonates-loudly-114924|access-date=2021-01-17|website=The Conversation|date=May 2019 }}</ref>

===Fightback! and the 1993 Federal Election===
{{main|Fightback! (policy)}}
Shortly after gaining the leadership, Hewson made up ground on the Hawke government in the opinion polls as the Australian economy struggled with the [[early 1990s recession]]. Hewson was determined to make a break with what he saw as the "weak [[pragmatism]] of past Liberal leaders." In November 1991, the opposition launched the 650-page [[Fightback! (policy)|Fightback!]] policy document − a radical collection of [[Economic liberalism|economic liberal]] measures including the introduction of a [[Goods and Services Tax (Australia)|Goods and Services Tax]] (GST), various changes to [[Medicare (Australia)|Medicare]] including the abolition of [[bulk billing]] for non-[[Social security|concession holders]], the introduction of a nine-month limit on [[unemployment benefits]], various changes to [[industrial relations]] laws including the abolition of [[Industrial award|awards]], a $13&nbsp;billion personal [[income tax]] cut directed at middle and upper income earners, $10&nbsp;billion in [[government spending]] cuts, the abolition of state [[payroll tax]]es, and the [[privatisation]] of a large number of government owned enterprises − representing the start of a very different direction from the [[keynesian]] [[economic conservatism]] practiced by previous Liberal/National Coalition governments. The 15 percent GST was the centrepiece of the policy document.

In December 1991, Keating successfully defeated Hawke and became prime minister. In 1992, Keating mounted a campaign against the Fightback package and particularly against the GST, which he described as an attack on the working class, as it shifted the [[tax burden]] from [[direct taxation]] of the wealthy to [[indirect taxation]] as a broad-based [[consumption tax]]. Keating memorably described the impact of Hewson's GST as "15% on this, 15% on that", and Hewson as a "feral [[abacus]]."<ref>{{Citation  | title = Australia's Hard Choice  | newspaper = [[The Economist]]  | volume = 326  | issue = 7801  | date = 6 March 1993}}</ref><ref>{{cite news
| url           = http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opposition-leaders-fates-over-30-years/story-e6freuy9-1225805752550
| work          = The Daily Telegraph|location=Sydney
| title         = Opposition leaders' fates over 30 years
| date          = 1 December 2009
| access-date    = 28 August 2010}}</ref>

In 1992, Hewson attacked New South Wales Labor leader [[Bob Carr]] for his lack of a family life when compared to Liberal Premier [[John Fahey (politician)|John Fahey]], stating, "You've got to be suspicious of a guy that doesn't drive, doesn't like kids and things like that. When he's up against a full-blooded Australian like John Fahey, he hasn't got a hope". Keating responded by saying "I don't think [[Ben Chifley]] had any trouble being a full-blooded Australian and he didn't have any children", and Hewson was later forced to withdraw the remark.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/throwing-baby-out-with-the-bathwater-on-questions-of-leadership-20070505-gdq2h2.html|title=Throwing baby out with the bathwater on questions of leadership|date=5 May 2007|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Carr and his wife Helena did not respond to Hewson's attack.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jg-kIhwAezIC&q=Bob+Carr+doesn%27t+drive+a+car+Hewson&pg=PA80|title=Bob Carr: The Reluctant Leader|first=Marilyn|last=Dodkin|date=17 December 2003|publisher=UNSW Press|isbn=978-0-86840-757-9|via=Google Books}}</ref>

Keating won the [[1993 Australian federal election|1993 election]], marking a record fifth consecutive Labor term, with the Coalition losing what many had described as "the unlosable election" for them.<ref name="SHWilmoth"/><ref name="TheAust2010-03-21"/> The issue of the GST was dropped from the Liberal Party's agenda until the [[1998 Australian federal election|1998 election]] campaign. Apart from the GST, other factors were believed to have contributed to the 1993 election defeat, including the fear of changes to Medicare and the zero Tariff policy. Peter Costello stated that he believes Hewson's Fightback! campaign caused unnecessary confrontations and that Hewson lacked the experience to know which policies to fight for and which ones to leave alone.  Notable confrontations including the GST proposal receiving opposition from Churches and Welfare as well as opposition to abolishing [[bulk billing]] and changing [[Superannuation in Australia|superannuation]].<ref>{{cite book | title=The Costello Memoirs | date=August 2009 | publisher=Melbourne University | isbn=978-0-522-85939-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5sGtRZsuNnEC&dq=costello+hewson+tariffs&pg=PA54 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref> An additional reason for the defeat was the partial backdown Hewson made in Fightback! policy in 1992 by agreeing not to levy the GST on food. This concession caused Hewson to be exposed to assertions of weakness and inconsistency, and also complicated the financial arithmetic of the whole package, as the weakening of the GST reduced the scope for tax cuts, the most attractive element of the package for middle-class voters. The complications of the revised Fightback! package were demonstrated in the "[[birthday cake interview]]", in which Hewson was unable to answer a question posed by journalist [[Mike Willesee]] about whether or not a birthday cake would cost more or less under a Coalition government. Hewson was instead forced into a series of [[circumlocution]]s about whether the cake would be decorated, have ice cream in it and so on, considered by some as a turning point in the election campaign. In reference to the birthday cake interview in an August 2006 interview, Hewson said: "Well I answered the question honestly. The answer's actually right. That doesn't count...I should have told him (Mike Willesee) to get stuffed!".<ref name="EnoughRope">{{cite web
| url           = http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1705370.htm
| work          = [[Enough Rope]] with Andrew Denton
| publisher     = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| title         = John Hewson
| date          = 7 August 2006
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060820185717/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/enoughrope/transcripts/s1705370.htm
| access-date    = 28 August 2010| archive-date = 20 August 2006
}}</ref> According to [[Nine Network|Channel 9's]] [[20 to 1]] episode ''Unscripted and Unplanned'', the Birthday Cake Interview incident was the moment Hewson lost the election with the interview held 10 days before polling day,<ref>The article [http://www.mumble.com.au/federal/ramsey_in_1993.htm "Hot Pies, Cold Pies AND Pie-Eaters", by Alan Ramsey, Sydney Morning Herald, 6 March 1993] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070903215527/http://www.mumble.com.au/federal/ramsey_in_1993.htm |date=3 September 2007 }} places the interview the "previous" Wednesday evening on the [[Nine Network]]'s ''[[A Current Affair (Australian TV series)|A Current Affair]]'', which would make it 3 March 1993, 10 days before the election.</ref> even though polls supported a Coalition victory right up to election day.<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.newspoll.com.au/cgi-bin/polling/display_poll_data.pl
 |publisher    = [[Newspoll]]
 |title        = Newspoll records
 |date         = 31 May 2008
 |access-date   = 28 August 2010
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20120531112110/http://www.newspoll.com.au/cgi-bin/polling/display_poll_data.pl
 |archive-date = 31 May 2012
 }}</ref>

===Loss of leadership & retirement===
Hewson announced that if the Coalition lost the 1993 election, he would resign as Liberal Leader. However, he changed his mind after the election and decided to not resign as Leader due to his objection to [[John Howard]] as his replacement, and the uncertainty this would create for issues like the Native Act and the Republic issue. Hewson felt he had to remain Leader, believing that Howard failed his Liberal leadership tenure from 1985 to 1989 and would not be a good leader of the party. Hewson also rejected suggestions like the one made by Senator Michael Baume that he was being used by Andrew Peacock and his supporters to block Howard from returning.<ref name="auto3"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jQSODwAAQBAJ&q=hewson+back+bench&pg=PA225|title=The March of Patriots: The Struggle For Modern Australia|first=Paul|last=Kelly|date=1 April 2014|publisher=Melbourne University Publishing|isbn=978-0-522-85941-6|via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/john-hewson-john-howards-republican-debate-tactics-threaten-samesex-marriage-20170921-gylqbj.html|title=John Hewson: John Howard's republican debate tactics threaten same-sex marriage|first=John|last=Hewson|date=21 September 2017|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref> Hewson defeated Howard in a post-election party leadership challenge in March 1993, which included the nomination of [[Bruce Reid (politician)|Bruce Reid]], Member for [[Bendigo]].<ref name=poliquant />

However, Hewson was not guaranteed to still be Coalition Leader by the time of the next Federal election in early 1996. Liberal MP's such as [[Peter Costello]]<ref name="theage2005">{{cite web|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/out-of-the-rough-kennett-and-kroger-end-feud/2005/06/21/1119321737624.html |title=Out of the rough: Kennett and Kroger end feud |work=The Age |date=22 June 2005 |access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref> and [[Bronwyn Bishop]] consistently undermined his leadership over the subsequent year; the media coverage of Bishop's transfer from the [[Australian Senate|Senate]] to the House of Representatives in 1994 damaged Hewson in a similar fashion to how the [[Joh for Canberra]] campaign damaged John Howard in the 1980s.<ref name="theage2005"/><ref>{{cite book | title=So Many Firsts |isbn=978-1-86287-717-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SjJtA6PQI5cC&dq=bronwyn+bishop+hewson&pg=PA150 | access-date=2020-12-17| last1=Fitzherbert | first1=Margaret | year=2009 | publisher=Federation Press }}</ref> Through persistent questions over his leadership, Hewson's consistent response was that "leadership is not an issue". Highly regarded Australian [[Psephology|psephologist]] [[Antony Green]] believes that had the former deputy Liberal leader [[Fred Chaney]] not retired in 1993 he could have succeeded Hewson as Liberal leader in 1993. Chaney was described by Hewson as "the little ***** from the West".<ref name="auto1">{{cite web | title=Dazzling meteor that disappeared – John Hewson was that most curious of creatures: a loner in politics, says NORMAN ABJORENSEN. – The Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 – 1995) – 28 Feb 1995 | website=Trove | date=1995-02-28 | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133338929 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2019/guide/pear|title=Pearce (Key Seat) – Federal Election 2019 Electorate, Candidates, Results &#124; Australia Votes |publisher=ABC News|location=Australia}}</ref>

As well as staying as Leader after the 1993 election defeat, Hewson also appointed himself Shadow Minister for Arts and Heritage, a position he held until the end of his leadership in May 1994.<ref>[https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22library/prspub/3758981%22 In the wilderness': preparation for government by the Coalition in opposition 1983–1994] Parliament of Australia</ref> During this time he shadowed Arts Ministers [[Bob McMullan]] and Michael Lee.

In 1993, during Parliamentary question time, Hewson declared to Paul Keating that the passing of the [[Native Title Act 1993|Mabo act]] would be "a day of shame" for Australia, stating that an alternative solution should be sought for the [[Aboriginal Australians|Aborigines]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Jackson |first=Liz |url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/stories/2012/05/03/3494661.htm |title=Judgement Day – Four Corners |date=3 May 2012 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Moreton |first=Romaine |url=http://aso.gov.au/titles/documentaries/after-mabo/clip2/ |title=After Mabo (1997) clip 2 on ASO – Australia's audio and visual heritage online |publisher=Aso.gov.au |date=2 March 1996 |access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref> Hewson claimed his inflammatory remarks were directed at Keating's policy and not extinguishing pastoral leases, but he never explained what better solution he was seeking and never withdrew his offensive remarks.<ref>{{cite web | title=I was wrong on Mabo: Kennett | website=The Age | date=2002-06-01 | url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/i-was-wrong-on-mabo-kennett-20020601-gdu9dt.html | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref> In 1994, Hewson declared Fightback! to be dead.  Around the same time, he declared his support for the Mardi Gras.<ref>{{cite web | last=Findlay | first=James | title=The Liberals and Mardi Gras in the 1990s | website=ABC Radio | date=2003-10-10 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/radio/sydney/programs/weekendmornings/mardi-gras-3-john-hewson/9470282 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref> Although the Labor Treasurer [[John Dawkins]] had presented a badly received 1993/1994 budget, Hewson seemed to not be making any momentum against the Federal Labor government as he had done in his previous parliamentary term.<ref>{{cite web | title=The tale of two budgets | website=The Age | date=2002-05-25 | url=https://www.theage.com.au/opinion/the-tale-of-two-budgets-20020525-gdu8ir.html | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref> Hewson gave a speech arguing that hardline [[Monarchism|Monarchists]] were an [[anachronism]], which resulted in John Howard storming into his office and shouting that Australia would be a [[republic]] over his dead body.<ref name="auto"/>

In early 1994, Labor Minister Ros Kelly became involved in a scandal known as the 'sports rorts' affair, which eventually led to her resignation. Kelly had previously stated that Hewson would be the only one resigning.<ref>{{cite web | title=Digging for gold in the marginals | website=The Sydney Morning Herald | date=2004-12-04 | url=https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/digging-for-gold-in-the-marginals-20041204-gdk8x5.html | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref> In May 1994, Hewson asserted that he was leader of the Liberal party, and was surprised by negative internal party polling on an episode of ''Lateline'', which led to his falling out with Liberal Federal Director [[Andrew Robb]].<ref>{{cite web | last=Wallace | first=Christine | title=HEWSON'S NIGHTMARE | website=Australian Financial Review | date=1994-03-07 | url=https://www.afr.com/politics/hewsons-nightmare-19940307-k5tju | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=The Victory | date=July 1997 | publisher=Allen & Unwin | isbn=978-1-74343-770-4 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-YELBAAAQBAJ&dq=andrew+robb+federal+director+hewson+lateline&pg=PT9 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | title=John Winston Howard | isbn=978-0-522-85522-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QuTmxhQWUwIC&q=andrew+robb+hewson | access-date=2020-12-17| last1=Onselen | first1=Peter Van | last2=Errington | first2=Wayne | year=2008 | publisher=Melbourne University}}</ref> Hewson attempted to silence leadership speculation in general by calling a leadership ballot on 23 May 1994. However, he lost the vote and the leadership to [[Alexander Downer]], who had undermined Hewson while acting as Shadow Treasurer. Hewson had also lost the support of Federal Liberal Party President Tony Staley and Andrew Peacock, who had supported Hewson four years earlier and against Howard's 1993 leadership challenge. Staley broke it off with Hewson after being informed by fellow Liberal party member [[Ron Walker (Australian businessman)|Ron Walker]] of difficulties in fundraising following the 1993 election defeat. Staley believed Hewson to be unelectable.<ref name="auto3"/> Journalist Laurie Oakes claimed that Hewson viewed Peter Costello as his would-be challenger, unaware of the threat posed by Downer.<ref>{{cite book | last=Oakes | first=L. | title=Power Plays: The real stories of Australian politics | publisher=Hachette Australia | year=2011 | isbn=978-0-7336-2705-7 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=crirZpFSPAQC&pg=PT54 | access-date=2020-12-17 | page=54}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://australianpolitics.com/executive/prime-minister/keating/paul-keating-chronology |title=Paul Keating – A Chronology |publisher=AustralianPolitics.com |access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref> Several days later after blaming Andrew Robb for his losing the leadership to Downer, Hewson was appointed as Shadow Minister for Industry, Commerce, Infrastructure, and Customs in Downer's shadow cabinet, becoming the third former Liberal leader in the group alongside Peacock (who quit politics later that year) and Howard.

Notwithstanding not foreseeing Downer as his replacement when he appointed him Shadow Treasurer, Hewson's strategy of saving his leadership was to promote rivals such as promoting Peter Costello to the Finance portfolio and bringing Bronwyn Bishop straight to Shadow Cabinet from the backbench with the new portfolio of Urban and Regional Strategy.

Despite his advocacy of right-wing economics, Hewson supported [[abortion]], [[LGBT rights by country or territory|gay rights]], and increasing working mothers' benefits.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tiernan|first1=Laura|title=The rise of the religious right in Australia – World Socialist Web Site|url=http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2005/12/chri-d05.html|website=wsws.org|publisher=International Committee of the Fourth International|access-date=6 February 2017|date=5 December 2005}}</ref> In August 1994, Hewson was dismissed by Downer from the shadow ministry after declaring his view on homosexual rights and for promoting himself as the conscience of the liberal party in Downer view.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/118265269 | title=How the Liberals Reacted | work=Canberra Times | date=27 August 1994 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/dead-man-talking-20171210-h0213b.html|title=Dead man talking|first=Damien|last=Murphy|date=1 January 2018|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;adv=yes;orderBy=customrank;page=0;query=John%2BHewson%2Bbiography;rec=0;resCount=Default |title=Biography for HEWSON, Dr John Robert |publisher=Parlinfo.aph.gov.au |date=31 August 2009 |access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref> During January 1995, following a controversial joke about [[domestic violence]] policy several months prior, Downer, at the risk of a leadership challenge from John Howard, asked Hewson for his support against Howard. Hewson released a statement indicating that he would support either Downer or Howard for leadership, on the condition that he became Shadow Treasurer. This led to Peter Costello (The Shadow Treasurer) stating that Hewson's days had passed and describing him as a suicide bomber.<ref>{{cite book | title=The_Costello_Memoirs | date=August 2009 | publisher=Melbourne University | isbn=978-0-522-85939-3 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5sGtRZsuNnEC&dq=costello+hewson+suicide&pg=PA67 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/blast-from-past-sparks-fresh-librawl-19950124-k68bp|title=Blast from past sparks fresh Librawl|date=24 January 1995|website=Australian Financial Review}}</ref> Several days later, Downer resigned and Howard was elected Liberal leader for his second period.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Banham|first1=Cynthia|title=Downer's mark|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Downers-mark/2004/12/17/1102787274498.html|access-date=27 January 2018|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=18 December 2004}}</ref> Hewson was not returned to the front bench as part of the Howard shadow cabinet and speculation spread that he intended to leave politics, a claim he denied while at the same time endorsing John Howard as Liberal party leader and prime minister. Former New South Wales Premier [[Nick Greiner]] confirmed he had advised Hewson to retire.<ref name="auto2">{{cite web | last=Lamberton | first=Hugh | title=Howard to reshuffle delicately – The Canberra Times (ACT: 1926 – 1995) – 30 Jan 1995 | website=Trove | date=1995-01-30 | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article132462717 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref>

On 28 February 1995, Hewson announced in the House of Representatives that he would resign as Member for Wentworth, citing his second wife's pregnancy and the fact he was seen as interfering when he spoke up and as holding a seat he should vacate if he remained silent.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/12/03/1101923332326.html |title=Digging for gold in the marginals – Alan Ramsey |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=4 December 2004 |access-date=13 July 2013}}</ref> He said in his resignation speech that while the Coalition might have won in 1993, if he had not released the ''Fightback!'' document before the election he would have had difficulty in passing legislation with the Senate, and he had therefore released it in an effort to secure support and gain a mandate for its goals. He also predicted that under Howard, the Coalition would win the next election as the electorate took its revenge on those who had pursued a "politics of fear and misrepresentation" in 1993.<ref>{{cite web | title=MEMBER FOR WENTWORTH | website=ParlInfo | date=1995-02-27 | url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F1995-02-27%2F0049%22 | access-date=2020-12-17}}</ref> He is the only Liberal leader to leave politics without serving as a minister Hewson was replaced by Andrew Thomson in the 1995 Wentworth by Election. Analysts had speculated that had Hewson remained in Parliament, he would have been at risk of losing Liberal party endorsement in a party pre-selection challenge to his seat potentially from [[Peter King (Australian politician)|Peter King]]. In other words, Hewson would have been forced to retire at subsequent federal election unless he stood as an independent if he quit the parliamentary liberal party.<ref name="auto2"/><ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.maynereport.com/articles/2007/12/02-2356-5323.html|title=Do former Coalition ministers perform well on boards?|last=Mayne|first=Stephen|date=12 February 2009|work=The Mayne Report|access-date=3 April 2013}}</ref> Hewson's former chief of staff, [[Tony Abbott]], who had just entered Parliament in the [[1994 Warringah by-election|Warringah by-election]], was among those who voted against Hewson in the May 1994 spill. In the immediate aftermath, Abbott told ''[[The 7.30 Report]]'' that Hewson should be remembered for his first three years as leader, when he united the party following divisions caused by the Peacock-Howard rivalry, and not for his last twelve months. Abbott also remarked that as ''Fightback!'' was central to a Hewson Prime Ministership, when the initiative was abandoned, Hewson had nothing to stand on as a leader.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}} In fact unlike Peacock and Howard or Malcolm Turnbull who departed from the Liberal Party leadership before returning to it there was no chance of Hewson regaining the position of leader.
Hewson is alleged to have not taken advice from experts as leader and also closing the door on the backbench liberal mps.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/133338929 | title=Dazzling meteor that disappeared | work=Canberra Times | date=28 February 1995 }}</ref>

Hewson's career stands as one of the shortest of any political party leader in Australia. Former Liberal Federal director Andrew Robb believes Hewson and the Liberals were spooked into releasing the policies of ''Fightback!'' too early by the Hawke government and parts of the media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/with-memories-of-93-the-opposition-readies-the-troops-never-to-lose-an-unlosable-election-again-20121110-294sr.html|title=With memories of '93, the opposition readies the troops never to lose an unlosable election again|first=Jessica|last=Wright|date=10 November 2012|website=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref><ref name="7.30 Report, 23 May 1994"/> Despite the 1993 election being regarded as a rejection of ''Fightback!'', several parts of it were later adopted into law during the final term of the Keating Labor government, and to a larger extent during the Howard Liberal government (including the GST), while [[unemployment benefits]] and bulk billing were re-targeted for a time by the Abbott Liberal government.

==Career after politics==
Since his departure from politics, Hewson has written extensively for the business and general press and spent time on the lecture circuit. In his writings, he demonstrated an increasing focus on corporate social and environmental responsibility. In 2003 and 2004, he chaired a community advisory committee for RepuTex, a company that provides analysis and forecasting for the energy sector and issued an annual public listing of Australia's top 100 socially and environmentally conscious companies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2003/s966009.htm|title=The World Today – Australia behind in corporate social responsibility|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}</ref>

===Business and academic activity===
In 1995, in one of his few private enterprise successes, Hewson was invited to join [[IT&T]] Services as a non-executive director. IT&T was a specialist IT and telecommunications design and project management group that delivered major technology projects for both corporate and government clients such as [[Citigroup]], the [[Department of Defence (Australia)|Department of Defence]], [[News Limited]], and [[Ernst & Young]] across the [[Asia-Pacific|Asia Pacific]] region. IT&T Services was acquired by the public company Powerlan Ltd in 2000.<ref>ASX, ASIC, PWR Annual report 2000</ref> Hewson then became a professor of management at [[Macquarie University]], Sydney, and [[Dean (education)|Dean]] of the [[Macquarie Graduate School of Management]] in 2002, but resigned within two years. While at Macquarie University, he also served as a consultant to [[ABN AMRO]].<ref>{{cite news
| url           = http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2004/s1188038.htm
| series        = [[The World Today (Australian radio program)|The World Today]]
| title         = Day one of the election race: who do we trust?
| publisher     = [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| date          = 30 August 2004
| author       = Hall, Eleanor}}</ref>

In 2005, Hewson was elected to the Touring Car Entrants Group of Australia (TEGA) board as an independent member. He left in June 2006 after a dispute with [[V8 Supercars]] Australia chairman [[Tony Cochrane]].<ref name="TheAust2010-03-21"/> Hewson held the position of chairman of the board of directors for the Elderslie Group, a company whose primary interests were [[corporate finance]] and property investments. Hewson touted the company to investors at a time when Elderslie was in financial difficulties, eventually leaving the company facing [[liquidation]] and large losses. When he resigned, he said that he was unsatisfied with the direction in which the Group was heading. On 2 July 2008, global accounting firm [[PricewaterhouseCoopers|PwC]] was appointed as receiver and administrator of the failed Elderslie Group.<ref>{{cite news
| url           = http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/elderslie-finance-in-receivership/story-e6frg8zx-1111116805381
| work          = [[The Australian]]
| title         = Elderslie Finance Corporation in receivership after John Hewson bid fails
| date          = 3 July 2008
| access-date    = 29 March 2010
| author        = Klan, Anthony}}</ref> Since around 2005, Hewson has been a member of the [[Trilateral Commission]],<ref>{{cite web
 |url          = http://www.trilateral.org/download/file/TC_list_8-10%281%29.pdf
 |work         = Trilateral Commission: List of Members
 |publisher    = [[Trilateral Commission]]
 |title        = Membership list
 |date         = August 2010
 |access-date  = 28 August 2010
 |archive-date = 9 June 2011
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110609204715/http://www.trilateral.org/download/file/TC_list_8-10(1).pdf
 |url-status   = dead
}}</ref> an alliance of top political and economic leaders from North America, Asia-Pacific, and [[Europe]].

In December 2012, Hewson was appointed as a non-executive director of Larus Energy, an [[oil]] and [[Natural gas|gas]] company developing operations in [[Papua New Guinea]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/business/breaking-news/hewson-to-join-board-of-png-miner-larus/story-e6frfkur-1226535608376|title=Hewson to join board of PNG miner Larus|date=12 December 2012|publisher=News.com.au|access-date=14 December 2012|archive-date=13 December 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121213150435/http://www.news.com.au/business/breaking-news/hewson-to-join-board-of-png-miner-larus/story-e6frfkur-1226535608376}}</ref>

===Political commentary===
After 1996 Hewson became increasingly critical of Prime Minister [[John Howard]]. In 2003 he opposed Howard's decision to take part in the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|Iraq War]] although in 2004 argued it would be electoral "suicide" for the Liberal Party to replace Howard with an alternative leader.<ref>[http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/australias-role-in-iraq-war-an-embarrassment-john-hewson-tells-qa/news-story/b506689a0351ef7c5971d233c92cd132 Australia's role in Iraq war an 'embarrassment', John Hewson tells Q&A – Herald Sun 13 July 2015]</ref><ref>[http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/03/09/1078594329283.html Leader change 'suicidal': Hewson – The Age 9 March 2004]</ref> In July 2006, Hewson gave an interview to [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]]'s ''[[Four Corners (Australian TV program)|Four Corners]]'' program in which he voiced concern at the growing influence of what he characterised as a "hardline right religious element" in the New South Wales branch of the Liberal Party.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2006/s1686114.htm |work=[[Four Corners (Australian TV program)|Four Corners]] |title=Interview: Dr John Hewson |date=17 July 2006 |publisher=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |author=Cohen, Janine}}</ref> This was in breach of a Liberal Party rule about speaking to the media and reports at the time claimed he could face expulsion from the party.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/membership-must-have-rewards--or-parties-will-die/2006/07/23/1153593209663.html?page=fullpage |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]  |title=Membership must have rewards – or parties will die |date=24 July 2006 |access-date=6 August 2010 |last=Davies |first=Anne}}</ref>

Hewson has repeatedly appeared in television interviews and on political panels and has been a regular columnist for the ''[[Australian Financial Review]]'' since 2004.<ref name="SHWilmoth"/>

In 2011 Hewson was among 140 Australian community leaders who pledged support for an [[Emissions trading]] scheme, despite the fact the Coalition and its leader [[Tony Abbott]] (Hewson's former Press Secretary) opposed the [[carbon tax]].<ref>{{cite news| last =Johnston| first =Matt| title =John Hewson breaks ranks on climate stance
| newspaper =Herald Sun| date =31 May 2011| url =http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/gillard-back-carbon-tax-with-rising-seas-study/story-fn7x8me2-1226065959640| access-date = 28 May 2012}}</ref> In July 2015, Hewson was critical of Prime Minister Tony Abbott's continuing support for Speaker Bronwyn Bishop during the travel expenses scandal, stating that the cost of that support would be "enormous".<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/former-liberal-leader-john-hewson-critical-of-tony-abbotts-response-to-bronwyn-bishop-expenses-scandal-20150719-gifita.html|title=Former Liberal Leader John Hewson critical of Tony Abbott's response to Bronwyn Bishop expenses scandal |author=Jane Lee |author2=Gareth Hutchens |author3=James Bullen |author4=Rachel Browne |date=20 July 2015|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

=== Departure from the Liberal Party ===
In a 2019 interview on Sky News in which he was speaking alongside [[Australian Greens|Greens]] MP [[Adam Bandt]], Hewson said that he had let his membership of the Liberal Party lapse.<ref>{{Citation|title=Adam Bandt and former Liberal leader John Hewson talking Climate Emergency on Sky AM Agenda| date=11 September 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz-nYzPU93M |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/Pz-nYzPU93M| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2020-03-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He has criticised various Liberal Party members, including former Prime Ministers [[Tony Abbott]] and [[Scott Morrison]] for their poor record on climate action. Hewson publicly campaigned for a [[carbon price|price on carbon]], a policy introduced by the [[Gillard government|Gillard Labor government]] and opposed by the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party's]] then leader Tony Abbott, who went on to scrap it as prime minister.<ref>{{Citation|title=Hewson signs up to carbon tax campaign| date=29 May 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUtajjKF76w |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/DUtajjKF76w| archive-date=2021-12-12 |url-status=live|access-date=2020-03-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===Awards===
On 26 January 2001, Hewson was honored as a [[Order of Australia#Award criteria in detail|Member]] of the [[Order of Australia]].<ref name="Honour">{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870700|title=Dr John Robert Hewson |website=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)]]|archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20240402115537/https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/870700|url-status=live|access-date=21 April 2024}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Hewson married Margaret Deaves in 1967 and they divorced in 1985.<ref name=deaves /> In 1988 he married [[Carolyn Hewson|Carolyn Somerville]] who was described by the media as "a formidable figure in investment banking".<ref name="SHWilmoth"/> They divorced in 2004.

In 2007, Hewson married publicist Jessica Wilson. {{as of|2010}}, they reside in the [[Southern Highlands (New South Wales)|Southern Highlands]] of New South Wales.<ref name="TheAust2010-03-21">{{cite news |url=https://www.theaustralian.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=TAWEB_WRE170_a&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theaustralian.com.au%2Fbusiness%2Fthe-deal-magazine%2Fin-constant-motion%2Fnews-story%2Fbface7411a149de661b9095e01242b70&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=LOW-Segment-1-SCORE&V21spcbehaviour=append |url-access=subscription |work=[[The Australian]] |title=In constant motion |date=31 March 2010 |access-date=28 August 2010 |last=Hewett |first=Jennifer}}</ref>

Since leaving politics, Hewson has been involved in a range of non-profit organisations, including the Arthritis Foundation of Australia and KidsXpress, a charity providing [[expressive therapy]] for children.<ref>{{cite web|title=Board of Directors |archive-date=2 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240402120240/https://kidsxpress.org.au/web/20240402120240/https://kidsxpress.org.au/about/our-team/board-of-directors/ |url-status=live|url=https://kidsxpress.org.au/about/our-team/board-of-directors/|at=Dr John Hewson|quote=Non Executive Chairman|website=kidsxpress.org.au}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|2267203}}
* {{YouTube|cwNxivx-56A|Video{{spaced ndash}}John Hewson's satirical history of the Liberal Party}}
* [http://www.reputex.com.au RepuTex corporate website]
* [http://www.efc.com.au Elderslie Finance corporate website]
* [http://www.kidsxpress.org.au KidsXpress Life website]

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{{Succession box| title=Member for [[Division of Wentworth|Wentworth]] | before= [[Peter Coleman]] | after= [[Andrew Thomson (Australian politician)|Andrew Thomson]] | years=1987–1995}}
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{{Succession box| title=[[List of Australian Leaders of the Opposition|Leader of the Opposition]] | before=[[Andrew Peacock]] | after=[[Alexander Downer]] | years=1990–1994}}
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{{Succession box| title=Leader of the [[Liberal Party of Australia]] | before=[[Andrew Peacock]] | after=[[Alexander Downer]] | years=1990–1994}}
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{{Liberal Party of Australia}}
{{Leaders of the Liberal Party of Australia}}
{{Macquarie Bank}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Hewson, John}}
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