He grew his firm into the largest single trader business in Queensland, opening offices in regional centres there and in New South Wales.

[6] While the Labor governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating were in power from 1983 to 1996, Moore served in the opposition's Shadow Cabinet for several key ministries including Finance, Industry and Commerce, and Communications.

Moore again contested the deputy leadership now vacated by Howard's elevation as leader but the position was ultimately won by Neil Brown.

When the 1996 election saw the Coalition return to power, Moore was appointed to the Cabinet in the new Howard government, as Minister for Industry, Science and Tourism and Vice-President of the Executive Council.

In this position Moore had a major role in shaping new government policies affecting the motor vehicle and pharmaceutical industries.

"[7] In 1996, Moore came close to being forced to resign a ministry for the second time in his career, when it was discovered that his share holdings included significant investments that could potentially create a conflict of interest with his ministerial portfolio.

The most significant events during this period were the deployment of forces to East Timor as a part of the U.N. peace-keeping effort and the upgrade and operationalisation of the Collins Class Submarine Fleet.

[citation needed] During the course of his second term in government, Howard reorganised Cabinet, and appointed Peter Reith as the Minister for Defence, with effect from 30 January 2001.

[2] His resignation came at a bad time for the government, and the subsequent Ryan by-election saw Labor take the normally comfortably safe Liberal seat.