John Howard, for the very reason that he was one of our best and longest serving prime ministers, remains the bête noire of the hard left. To prove he is duplicitous, they constantly use an all-purpose myth, that he rigged the 1999 republican referendum.

So it was predictable that once Sydney University decided to award him an honorary doctorate, there would be hysterical protests culminating with an unruly and violent demonstration outside the Great Hall, ruining the day for the congregation of young graduates, their families and friends.