Word of the day: plebiscite – A direct vote in which the entire electorate is invited to accept or refuse a proposal.
Mr Howard said he did not believe public opinion had yet settled on war on Iraq.
He dismissed calls from Greens Senator Bob Brown to hold a plebiscite.
“You don’t have plebiscites on these issues, we never have,” Mr Howard told the Nine Network.
“Governments are elected to govern.”