Mr Howe entered parliament in 1977. Until
then he was Director of the Centre for Urban Residence and Action Fitzroy
as well as being a lecturer in Sociology at the Swinburne Institute of Technology.
From 1960 to 1969 he was a Methodist Minister.Mr Howe served as Deputy Prime Minister from 1991 to 1995. Other portfolios he has held include Social Justice, Housing and Regional Development, Community Services and Health and Defence Support.