Cabinet documents shed light on big decisions of 2004

The National Archives of Australia has released more than 240 cabinet papers from 2004, giving an insight into the critical decisions of then prime minister John Howard and his ministers.

* The national security committee agreed to scale down the presence of Australian civilian advisers in Iraq, following concern the security environment would worsen after an interim government took over from coalition authorities.

* Despite fears of insurgence violence in Iraq, then defence minister Robert Hill told cabinet Iraq was a potential model for political and economic reform in the Middle East.

* There was unease in the cabinet about requests from the US for Australian specialist investigators to assist with preparing a war crimes case against Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein due to the likelihood of a death penalty being imposed.

* Former trade minister Mark Vaile expressed concern an UN and US inquiry into the Australian Wheat Board's dealings with Iraq was a way for America to move in on the organisation's stranglehold of the Iraqi wheat market, after claims the AWB paid kickbacks to Saddam's regime.

* Briefings were held following a bomb blast at the Australian embassy in Jakarta.

* Following 9/11, cabinet discussed decision-making plans in the event a terrorist attack involving a hijacked plane took place in Australia, although ministers conceded that event with a streamlined process, it would not be responsive enough to prevent an attack.

* Cabinet noted the prime minister or defence minister could order the defence force to shoot down a plane if it was believed to be involved in a 9/11-style attack.

* Cabinet received advice on changing marriage laws to explicitly reference the union between a man and a woman after the ACT passed laws that allowed same-sex couples to become adoptive parents.

* A proposal to set up a mandatory code of conduct between grocery chains and growers was knocked back due to criticism it could lead to unnecessary regulation of the sector.

* The prime minister in a submission to cabinet rejected the idea that changes to capital gains tax increased house prices.

* Cabinet signed off on plans to sell the government's remaining shares in Telstra in order to set up the Commonwealth sovereign wealth fund, also known as the future fund.

* Briefings were held about detained Australian David Hicks in Guantanamo Bay, who was held there on terror charges.

* Security officials warned cabinet about possible threats at the Athens Olympics, raising concern about Greek agencies to respond effectively to a major terrorist incident.

* Cabinet was also aware Australia would face an international backlash when it set up its crackdown on asylum seekers.