Of course - John Howard. Six years ago, almost to the day.
Most voters remember the lie.
What they forget is the truth Howard told 24 hours earlier which caused him to lie 24 hours later. The circumstances of Victorian senator Stephen Conroy's candour two days ago are eerily similar. Except Labor's Conroy hasn't lied to escape the political consequences of his honesty. As now, an election was coming due in 1995. Like Kim Beazley, it would be Howard's last chance to become prime minister.