If the individual was in a particular position during the said period, and maybe if that position was PM of Australia, then maybe you could compare Howard's economic performance as PM over the said period with the economic performance of a State, say like Victoria.
Differences in the size of the economies doesn't mean the graphs can't have similar patterns that reflect general highs and lows of larger overall economic conditions. There really shouldn't be a need to state the obvious like this on a stock market forum, it's pretty basic stuff, (more so when the State of Victoria's results are a component of the Federal's results).
Research general economic conditions during the decade leading up to 2008, and see if there are similar patterns between different size economies.
