by the open, competitive philosophy. Reducing tariffs and eliminating quotas were tools of trade in fashioning the open, competitive economy, essential in exposing Australian business to international competition. At no time did the Hawke and Keating governments regard reducing tariffs and other trade barriers as bad for Australia, a necessary evil in extracting concessions from trading partners. Although painful for those directly affected, tariff reductions were considered to be in the national interest, part of an overall program of increasing national jobs and prosperity. And adjustment assistance was provided to those who were adversely affected by the necessary tariff reductions. It is for these reasons that Hawke and Keating pressed ahead with scheduled tariff cuts through the teeth of the deep recession of 1991 and why, in that year, they legislated even greater tariff reductions. These policies required enormous political courage and the understanding of a visionary trade union movement. But, as an essential part of the overall economic reform program, they helped lay the platform for almost 20 years of sustained economic growth. As a result of those far-sighted Labor government market-opening policies, continued by the Howard government after an early freeze, general tariff rates fell from more than 15 per cent to 5 per cent or zero, the combined tariff and quota rate on automobiles fell from 85 per cent to 5 per cent and tariffs on clothing and some textiles fell from maximum rates of 180 per cent to 10 per cent with a further reduction to