(S (S (BASENP (NNP Prime) (NNP Minister) (NNP John) (NNP Howard)) (VP (VBZ has) (VP (VBN contended) (SBAR (IN that) (S (BASENP (DT the) (JJ new) (NNS reforms)) (VP (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (JJ necessary))) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VP (VB keep) (S (BASENP (PRPD our) (NN economy)) (ADJP (JJ competitive)))) (CC and) (VP (VB update) (BASENP (JJ outdated) (NNS laws)))))))))))) (PERIOD .))