Another Howard fiasco is refusing to cut petrol prices. People are sick to death of being gouged at the gas station. Half of every dollar spent at the petrol pump goes into the government's pocket. In theory, part of it is to go back to the people in the form of road repair. Yes, this is the amount of petrol tax allocated to road construction, but magically didn't make it.
People are furious at being routed unfairly once more.
It won't, or at least it wouldn't until Howard got a very large shot of reality. It was a huge shock to the obviously overconfident Liberal John Howard. He's now scrambling to not lose his grip on his own political seat. With these few little crises breathing down the Prime Minister's neck, it's doubtful he's giving the Indonesian dilemma much brain space. It could be, should he manage to stay in office this election year, a much larger concern than the ire of constituents.