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Costello our best asset: Abbott

Posted August 29, 2008 07:00:00
Updated August 29, 2008 10:20:00

Liberal frontbencher Tony Abbott has added fuel to the fire of the Liberal leadership debate by saying Peter Costello is the party's "best political asset".

Former treasurer Mr Costello has been on the backbench since the last election and has been the focus of fevered speculation about his future in politics.

In an article to be published in Quadrant magazine, Mr Abbott says Mr Costello is "undeniably the Liberal Party's best political asset now that [John] Howard is gone".

"So much turns on whether he recovers the will to serve, which so clearly (if understandably) wavered in the aftermath of the last election," he says.

"Only Peter Costello can decide whether to carry the tag of 'greatest prime minister Australia never had'," he concludes.

Mr Abbott says many former Howard loyalists want Mr Costello to stay in Parliament.

Mr Costello has ruled out a direct challenge to Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson but has not commented on the chance of him taking the leadership if Dr Nelson steps down.

Mr Costello will be the guest of honour at a Melbourne tribute dinner tonight and will release his memoirs next month.

Yesterday Prime Minister Kevin Rudd stepped up the attack on Mr Costello, calling a "smiling predator" in anticipation of global economic turmoil.

Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard joined the fray, calling Mr Costello's upcoming memoirs "a book with spine from a politician without one".

Today deputy Liberal leader Julie Bishop said she was not aware of any change in Mr Costello's plans since he said he would be quitting politics last year.

Ms Bishop called Mr Costello the most experienced parliamentarian on either side of politics but played down talk of him staying on.

"Last year when Peter had an opportunity to take the leadership of the Liberal Party he declined and said he would be retiring from politics," she said.

"Brendan put his hand up and was elected the leader of the party.

"Now Tony can write tribute pieces to Peter Costello and I think that's entirely appropriate, but the reality is Peter said he didn't want to stand for leader."

Tags: government-and-politics, federal-government, parliament, federal-parliament, political-parties, liberal-party, australia

Comments (112)

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• michael:

  29 Aug 2008 7:22:42am

  If costello is the best asset they have its time to blow out the candles because the party is over.

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  • Doh:

    29 Aug 2008 7:45:37am

    The dream of the one party state lives on.

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  • Harry:

    29 Aug 2008 8:45:53am

    After being John Howard's under-study for so long, maybe Peter has to work at re-believing in himself. That second man stuff must have been really hard. And it's clear that he has a different style than Howard. Participating in the Sorry walk across the Harbour Bridge hinted at that. But it seems that he needs to re-find his Mojo. It may happen. It may not, but time-out is understandable.

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  • Mark:

    29 Aug 2008 9:16:17am

    Agreed. Costello is a front-runner. In footy terms he's a receiver - he never goes in for the hard ball. He'd never have got a game for Essendon under Sheedy if he'd been a footballer. Sheeds only respected players who took on the contests they weren't guaranteed to win. The Australian electorate has already indicated that they won't vote for him because he appears to be all smirk, no substance. Keating said he was policy-lazy and his peformance as treasurer deomonstrates that, in the end, he was nothing more than a tax collector. Howard drove the GST and beyond that the former government made no effort to reform our economy, as Hawke and Keating did. Still, if the Libs have no one else I'm sure Labor won't mind if Costello makes another grand entrance in his emperor's new clothes.

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  • BF:

    29 Aug 2008 10:02:03am

    How can you say that when he delivered budget after budget that got nothing but praise from the opposition.... that really happenened and not that long ago, do you watch Question Time?

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• MO:

  29 Aug 2008 7:27:33am

  Rudd is making a mistake in keeping Costello in the spotlight. He is showing the opposition what he fears the most and making Coistello think he is important enough to hang around in Parliament.
  
  Costello is playing it smart - keeping all his powder dry for (if and) when the opportunity best presents.

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  • Rick:

    29 Aug 2008 8:13:15am

    There is nothing Mr Rudd fears more than the sight of the "smiling predator" sitting opposite him during parliament. I like Costello, I think he has a great sense of humor. Has peerless economic managment credentials and is down to earth. Bring it on!

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    • Mundo:

      29 Aug 2008 8:31:05am

      'peerless economic managment credentials' that's right, 'management', he and Howard were the luckiest little men in Australian political history, all the hard work had been done by Hawke and Keating without whom the clown twins would have had nothing to manage.

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      • Neal:

        29 Aug 2008 8:44:20am

        So you are saying Hawke and Keating created the economy? That is a pretty big statement. I would argue however that every reform brought in by Hawke and Keating had been used by other countries first, and proved successful. They weren't adventurous, they were just pragmatic.

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      • Ben:

        29 Aug 2008 9:01:12am

        I think you should read Mundo's statement again. The important words are 'hard work', this does not imply that they invented the policies it is often wise to use other countries successful policies in your own country (in other words smart management will use successful models).
        
        Now if I interpret your response, you are actually crediting the Hawke/Keating governments for the prosperity that the Howard government enjoyed ;)

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      • Emma:

        29 Aug 2008 9:58:51am

        It's a well known fact that even the most conservative of economists would agree on:
        
        Keating and Hawke introduced the most significant, far-reaching and successful reforms to the Australian economy, including:
        
        - the floating of the Australian dollar
        - creating an independent central bank (we did this before the UK)
        - establishing the union accord and wage fixing based on productivity which resulted in dramatically increased productivity coupled with wage restraint
        - reducing tariffs for protected industries
        
        Howard and the libs did nothing except enjoy the good global economic times (now coming to an end) and coast on the success of the tough reforms that were introduced before they took power.
        
        We owe Keating an enormous debt for his economic management - Costello isn't fit to shine his shoes. Keating's reforms coincided with a global recession - nothing more than bad timing, but most feeble-minded people can't grasp the fact that we are living in a global economy and just as our economy expanded with others in the world, so too will it contract. It did in the 90s and it will again - regardless of who is in power.

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      • drew:

        29 Aug 2008 9:33:41am

        the ALP and Rudd are focusing on Costello - just to show how worthless the Leader of the Opposition is.
        
        
        

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      • darson:

        29 Aug 2008 9:42:30am

        Forget the opposition, how about focusing on some real things like the economy and hospitals and education and......
        
        Opps that requires backbone!

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      • Jamie Bloomfield:

        29 Aug 2008 9:35:14am

        Let's not forget that Costello said that Howard spent like a drunken sailor. Each and every election they bribed the electorate with billions - billions that could have been spent on health, education, infrastructure, health, education, work skills, transport etc.

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      • wmc:

        29 Aug 2008 9:54:39am

        Labor was mugged by reality in the early '80s and the process goes on. Hawke and Keating had the sense to realise that left wing policies were a dismal failure and moved Labor to the right.
        
        The Coalition gave legislative support to Labor for reforms that Hawke and Keating put in place and can therefore claim some credit for those reforms.
        
        Labor, however, can claim none of the credit for reforms brought in by the Howard government. Instead, Labor did its best to stop Howard from undoing the damage caused by his predecessor's appalling profligacy.

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    • twobob:

      29 Aug 2008 8:39:03am

      Yes I am certain that the Labor party fears Costello. It would be so hard to attack his record on inflation and workchoices. Oh I am certain that they shake in their boots at thought of bringing those issues to the next election.

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      • MO:

        29 Aug 2008 10:34:25am

        If that is all the ALP can campaign on at the next election then it will be a very sad indictment of their 3 years in government!
        
        Bloggers please, lets discuss the issues. This ALP v Liberal rubbish assumes that there are major differences between them. I think Kevin just demonstrated that there is not.

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      • twobob:

        29 Aug 2008 10:40:36am

        NO MO
        It is a very sad indictment of Costello and his record and values

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      • James:

        29 Aug 2008 10:41:25am

        Fear Costello? He had - what - 11 years to tilt at the leadership and he never had the backbone. What exactly is there to fear? Costello is weak and a ditherer - otherwise he would have taken the leadership. If he gets it, it will be a blessing for labor.

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    • Steve:

      29 Aug 2008 9:11:59am

      Yes Rick bring it on! You won't get agreement from many here though because their left leaning dogma will not allow them to give credit when credit is due. As for spineless, I think it shows the strength of someones character when they put unity before personal ambition. If Costello had an ego the size of Keating the libs would have been torn apart.

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      • John O:

        29 Aug 2008 9:47:24am

        Very well said. Personally I'd like to see Turnbull and Costello working together.
        
        As for Gillard and Rudd they really are just schoolyard bullies calling names. Next thing they'll be pulling hair. These guys are labour through and through - they wouldn't have been out of place at Iguanas next to Neal and Della Bosca.

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    • Tony:

      29 Aug 2008 9:40:08am

      "peerless economic managment credentials "?
      That's taking things a bit far...
      
      Beyond installing a regressive consumption tax, I cant think of too many lasting memorials to his peerless management.
      
      I reckon he is possibly the LAZIEST treasurer we have ever seen, content to coast on commodity revenue receipts from a global boom, without any forward plan beyond shoving the cash out the door to as many ineterest groups as needed to get re-elected.
      
      And why don't any of his supporters ever talk about his record on foreign debt?
      Maybe because it rose by 350% under his watch...he has well and truly parked his debt truck out the back.
      It was good enough to campaign on in '96 but now it dare not speak its name.

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      • JC:

        29 Aug 2008 10:36:30am

        Yep, the ALP attacks the former treasurers creds, management etc and say he has left a basket case. But wait, in a story just gone to press (30 minutes ago) Mr Rudd says the fundementals are to improve early in 2009. Gee, just as well Peter left it in such bad shape!! I contrast to "the recession we had to have" and the "banana republic" comments of Saint Paul.
        

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    • Julian:

      29 Aug 2008 10:21:06am

      Rick,
      
      You think Costello is "down to earth" do you? That's very niave. Do you think you get ahead or survive in politics or business by being down to earth. What you really mean to say, is that you PERCEIVE him to be down to earth.

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  • Ben:

    29 Aug 2008 8:43:36am

    Lol, Abbott and Costello the greatest comedy team since... well Abbott and Costello.
    
    I think you will find that the Rudd government would prefer Mr "I have no backbone" Costello to say someone like Mr Turnbull who has the guts to challenge for leadership and take it to the current PM. If Peter's memoirs are anything like other exiting pollies, I don't think he will want to be around to clean up his own mess ;)
    
    I think it is time for the Liberals to shed their Howard era persona, and these two comedians are the first who should make way for the young blood in the liberal ranks. The Liberal's need to appeal to a younger generation of Australians that the Howard government used his socio-economic wedge to drive out of the market.

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    • Harry:

      29 Aug 2008 8:59:23am

      Ben, I disagree. Costello is more of a threat to Labor than Turnbull. Remember when Latham was running for PM and Labor tried using a potential Costello leadership as a negative, and it backfired. Sure Costello may not of been as popular as Howard at the time - but he was a still a plus.
      Costello just hasn't had chance to show who he really is, and after so long in the shadows of Howard, I think Peter has to rediscover who he really is. Give him time.
      
      As for Turnbull, I'm not sure he's the right person to lead the Liberals.

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      • M:

        29 Aug 2008 9:26:06am

        but Harry didnt the majority of swinging voters vote for Labor when Howard announced he was only going to be in leadership for 18 months and hand over power to Costello if he won the last election?

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      • Ben:

        29 Aug 2008 9:27:54am

        I hope you aren't saying that Mr Latham's attacks on Mr Costello are the failings of his government. Mr Latham was a very poor choice for opposition leader and caused more problems than good for the party, I don't think many Labor supporters would have ever support Mr Latham as the leader of their party (and this is what I was referring to for memoirs). Labor could not find a truely likeable and strong leader through their opposition years, sure I liked Mr Beasly but he really wasn't PM material. Perhaps the Liberals should learn from Labor and move on sooner, as this can only aid the time taken to go from opposition to government.
        
        Don't disagree that Mr Turnbull may not be the ideal candidate at this stage, but my feeling is he is the best of current crop (and surely his preferred PM position can't get any lower than Dr Nelson's).

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      • Harry:

        29 Aug 2008 9:51:51am

        Ben, sure there was a host of problems with the Latham campaign, but I think the Labor pollsters misjudged the electorates attitude towards Costello, based on preferred PM between Howard and Costello (it seems). I think people probably thought at least Costello would be good for economic security if he was PM.
        
        But Costello's potential as a leader is now more clear because he performs best as preferred Coalition leader from the choice from the current options.
        
        M, for the electorate to really know what Peter Costello's leadership is like, we need to see him perform without being overshadowed by somebody else. Leader of the opposition is a good chance for him to show that. When, and if, he's ready.
        
        

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• Whiplash:

  29 Aug 2008 7:29:03am

  Really, You don't say Tony?
  
  I would hazzard to think that the electorate said something about how much of an asset he really is to them, last november.
  
  But Hey, I can't begrudge a man his ambition - if he's really got any left. Comeon Pete, Step up; take a swing, show us what you got!
  
  Can he be counted as a viable leadership alternative?
  
  The answer's only "Yes" if that is what Peter wants...
  

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  • Id:

    29 Aug 2008 7:58:00am

    Even Peter Costello, arrogant as he is, can see the leadership of the Liberal Party is a recipe for political suicide.
    That is why Turnbull is keeping quiet about it.
    Nelson,in political terms is just about to become a feather duster. I wonder who is next?

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  • Willster:

    29 Aug 2008 9:23:23am

    "I would hazzard to think that the electorate said something about how much of an asset he really is to them, last november."
    
    Yup, the electorate re-elected him. A great asset. Thanks for pointing that out.

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  • JC:

    29 Aug 2008 9:59:01am

    I think that the prime reason the electorate voted the Libs out was because of Workchoices.
    
    It had nothing to do with the economy. There was no talk, from either side, on credit crunches on economic weakness etc etc.
    
    It is very easy to look backwards and say "but they should have seen such and such." Yep, bring on hindsight. Maybe I can go and get some from OPSM for the tatts numbers!!
    
    I dont think Rudd fears Costello, nor Gillard, but probably the ALP's weakest link, Mr Swan. The man, unfortunately, cannot string an intelligle sentence to save himself. He needs by serious re-engineering. Perhaps this could be carried out by the CFMEU!!
    

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• pony:

  29 Aug 2008 7:31:00am

  Tony, tony, tony,.....(sigh), Mr Costello is helping your party look even more desperate for guidance.
  He is stalling and stuffing around like he did each time the question of him challenging Johnny was raised. Do you really want someone like that to represent the Librals?
  My advice is,"Get your sh*t together and do your job as Opposition."

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  • Doh:

    29 Aug 2008 7:55:51am

    Don't wish too hard. Labor is in enough strife as it is with an opposition they deride. The advice is sound and cuts both ways.
    
    Get on with Government Mr Rudd.

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    • swampy:

      29 Aug 2008 9:08:37am

      gee going by the polls i bet any world government would like to be in as much strife as the Rudd government is lol, even Shanahan has given up on forcasting the end to the honeymoon.

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• Another View:

  29 Aug 2008 7:31:36am

  I've been castigated on this forum before for putting Costello down, but I am going to do it again.
  
  "Smarmy Pete" Costello has all the electoral appeal of a very bad smell let loose in a space suit.
  
  He couldn't win a chook raffle if he purchased all the tickets, yet alone lead the Coalition to an electoral victory.

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  • Chappy:

    29 Aug 2008 7:54:45am

    If the electorate didn't like him, he wouldn't have WON his seat in parliament.....would he??????

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    • priceless:

      29 Aug 2008 8:03:33am

      He won his seat in his electorate. The overwhelming majority of Aussies who live outside of his protectorate voted with their feet .

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    • Bernard Woolley:

      29 Aug 2008 8:15:13am

      Chappy - I don't think Peter can take that much confidence out of the fact that he won his seat of Higgins. The Liberal Party could put Joseph Stalin into the seat of Higgins and the Toorak Tractors will still turn out in their droves to vote Liberal.

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    • twobob:

      29 Aug 2008 8:43:02am

      Safe seats speak volumes about the intellect of the voters in those seats. eg I will vote how my daddy did and his daddy before him, that mentality really serves a nation doesn't it?
      How safe a seat is higgins?

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      • llanfair:

        29 Aug 2008 9:07:58am

        Based on historic swings, I doubt more than 10% of voters vote based on the relative merits of the two parties on offer. Given both parties are based on century old philosophies rather than the challenges faced by humanity in the 21st Century, this speaks volumes for the eloctorate at large.
        
        Costello and Keating before him were both excellent managers but lousy leaders. Hawke and Howard were effective populist leaders but had little or no vision. On Rudd's performance to date he is neither.
        
        Who cares though! For the foreseeable future we will be stuck with the Liberal-Labor duopoly and they will take it in turns running the place. As neither has a vision for this century, we are probably better served voting for the manager, who in the footsteps of Saints Peter and Paul will keep the Government off the backs of those Australians actually striving to make Australia a successful 21st Century nation.
        

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  • hugh from plumbers today:

    29 Aug 2008 8:10:29am

    peter costello is a fantastic leader of men. i bow down to his supreme power

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• Mark:

  29 Aug 2008 7:32:26am

  Labor is my first pref b4 Liberal, but I just hate it how even pollies I admire have to put in stupid derogatory comments. Gillard seems to be someone with intelligence and commitment. Why does she have to make a stupid comment like that? It is a bad place is Parliament, and the life of politics. Its mean spiritedness demeans us all.

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  • Harry:

    29 Aug 2008 8:35:18am

    Actually Mark, I'm not anti-Labor, and I agree that it's unbecoming of Julia to go for the 'cheap shot' on Peter Costello. For the office she's holding she needs to break those habits of crass head kicking. Come on Julia.

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• Samuel DiGiovanni:

  29 Aug 2008 7:37:09am

  Can you believe Mr abbott what makes him the authority on liberal party leadership he was part of the cabinet ministers that got so wrong by letting Howard stay to long which has damaged the liberal party brand and this waffle about Costello being as messiah of the liberal partyty for gods sake the libs have given the public tow choices in one corne we have Mr smirk (Costello) and in the other corner we have Mr 10% ( Nelson) both from the extreme rigth of the party what the libs dont understand is they need to modernise the party and get rid of rid of extreme rigth of the party just like labor did and got rid of the loony left and they have only one person thast could get them back to power and that is Malcom Turbull who is more tolerant and has the capacity to take the libs back to midlle ground

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  • Tyson:

    29 Aug 2008 8:38:15am

    Samuel, I'm not sure where you get your ideas..
    
    But neither Costello nor Nelson are from the far right of the party, indeed, they're very moderate.
    
    Sophie Mirabella is the far right.
    
    Get your facts straight.

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    • Samuel digiovanni:

      29 Aug 2008 8:55:37am

      Tyson please did you forget that the mesiah Mr Costello is actually been part of Hr Nichols group which is extreme right group and for Mr nelson just look at his record on speeches since he has been in parliment and dont forget he supported work choices so get your facts rigth thank you

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• Doh:

  29 Aug 2008 7:37:56am

  It is no credit to the Labor party to have leaders who resort to name calling. These are the same leaders who call for bipartisanship. Keep the blows above the belt please!

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  • Jank:

    29 Aug 2008 9:26:34am

    Moreover, they say Costello is spineless for not challenging Howard or Nelson, yet both Rudd and Gillard pulled out of the ALP post-Latham leadership vote for the exact same reason of not having the numbers, letting Kim Beasley walk through unopposed. Perhaps Costello has yet to pull the 'brilliant move' of challenging at a more appropriate time.

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• JvO:

  29 Aug 2008 7:51:06am

  Not only is Costello the best, the opposition as a whole is Kevin Rudd's greatest assett.
  Keep it up fellas you are indeed what this country needs the most at this point in time,,,,, out of the way,,,, playing your little games that Howard taught you.

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  • Doh:

    29 Aug 2008 8:19:52am

    If a weak opposition is the Prime Minister's greatest asset then look for a change of government at the next election.

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    • Ben:

      29 Aug 2008 8:55:41am

      I'm getting sick of the comment that the current government will be out at the next elections. Let's look at the history of Austrlaian politics, there have been very few one term governments (I believe only two). I believe this is because the electorate understands it will take longer than one term to have the policies you work on to be put in place and actually working (they can judge you on performance). Now to be a one term government you would have to really screw the country, and even coalition supporters cannot say the Rudd government has done this so far (especially if your arguement is along the lines of they have done nothing yet = previous government policies screwing country).
      
      The election is still two years off so I suggest that we want to see two things in the mean time, 1) we want to see a stronger opposition and this leads to 2) now that the oppostion is stronger they can hold the governmnet accountable without looking irresponsible. I have said it before and I'll say it again, I may vote for the party that is in power but I definitely don't want them having ultimate power (upper and lower houses), this leads to poorly and rushed decisions such as Work Choices.

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• swampy:

  29 Aug 2008 7:53:11am

  Costello carries too much baggage from the "Howard years" and he knows it, he with Nick Michin founded the HG Nichols society, an extremist right wing group that berated the libs for not taking work choices much further than what it did, as far as the economy goes he's got 10 interest rate rises and high inflation under his watch, Howard was the only Australian treasurer to bring in stagflation {double digit interest rates, inflation and unemployment} it took Keating and Hawke to get us out of that mess, knowing that, Costello made no attempt to rein Howard's wild wasting of the boom proceeds on bribing for votes, Costello has never had the guts to challenge for the leadership and even now against a weak opponent he refuses to challenge and wants it handed to him gift wrapped by a suitably begging lib party, then he can either arragantly accept or kick them in the face for revenge, pshaw! even his father in law wrote his book for him.
  the libs need new blood, fresh young blood with new ideas minus the baggage of the "old school" to become an effective opposition and an acceptable alternative government, labor found this out during their twelve years in the wilderness and their recycling of past leaders, the libs should be getting on with it and renewing it's stocks and letting the old hacks go!

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  • Chappy:

    29 Aug 2008 8:15:12am

    The big "10 interest rate rise" mantra is really getting tiresome.....what does that equate to swampy....a whopping 2.5% increase....money is still relatively cheap to borrow mate....and in the time Peter Costello was treasurer interest rates FELL at least 3 times (+7.5%) that of the "huge" rise you speak of.....I can only assume you are fairly young or have an extremely short memory......

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    • Mundo:

      29 Aug 2008 8:36:02am

      If you want interest rate falls take a look at the drop from 1991 to '93...I think you'll find it comes to about 12%...a feat Costello could only dream of. Poor man, he's had to live in Keating's shadow all these years, and always will.

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      • Chappy:

        29 Aug 2008 9:01:49am

        Hi Mundo....without getting into a "my fall is bigger than your fall" type of debate, my recollection of the decrease (you refer to) would have been very similar to the one I stated...around 7%.... I bought my first house in 1997 on an interest rate of 12.75%, thats about the time Mr Costello started as treasurer.
        
        If you added your 12% to that you would get competitive mortgage rates at about 24-25%.....they were never that high...I think they topped at about 18-19%, though I would conceed SOME credit card type finance was above 20%.....Mr Costello had nothing to do with that....point is, the decreases in both of our time frames illustrates the significant decreases in resect to the small increases we have seen in recent times.....2.5% increase....now that's acceptable....

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    • Mundo:

      29 Aug 2008 8:38:21am

      ...a bit like the stupid Howard/Costello budget blackhole mantra of for all those years....but then, most people had forgotten the size of the whopping great deficit treasurer Howard left behind in 1983....

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    • twobob:

      29 Aug 2008 8:49:49am

      What it equated to Chappy was a rise in inflation where there need not have been one.
      
      It equated to the second highest interest rates in the world.
      
      In short it equated to BAD economic management
      and what was his answer?
      
      Take the rights away from the workers - workchoices - urrgh it stinks so bad I now have to go and wash my fingers just from typing it

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    • Tom:

      29 Aug 2008 9:03:17am

      Come on Australia, let's get real, we have been on the crest of a wave for along time now, and that wave being the "RESOURCE SECTOR". Interest rates are not high, remember when we were paying upwards of 15% not that long ago. People in today's society need to learn to tighten their belts, stop spending on those credit cards and wait till you have the cash or even better still until you can actually afford the items you want to purchase.
      
      Chappy is right the younger generation have short memroies and need to stop the blame the game and set some realistsic financial plans and goals, ones they can actually afford.

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  • Jim:

    29 Aug 2008 8:19:37am

    When will people get over Workchoices? It's just like the GST - the sky was going to fall in! Don't see anyone complaining now. The ALP seem happy to use Work Choices legislation when it suits them in recent days. I happen to believe Workchoices is a good idea. It increases competetiveness in the market place and in the employment sector, reduces inflationary pressure and brings down unempoyment. Mr Costello introduced it because he is an excellent economic manager, not a sycophant.

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• marcus:

  29 Aug 2008 7:53:16am

  Well Krudd is currently planning his next [taxpayer funded] overseas holiday, this time to Brazil.
  
  Has the man spent more then a week in Australia since being elected?- or is he too busy trying to 'live it up' and see the world during his short reign as PM.
  
  You go for it Costello- maybe your challenge will bring the PM scrambling back to Australia (for once).

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  • Doh:

    29 Aug 2008 8:08:37am

    The best thing for government in Australia would be a change of Liberal leadership by consensus. Having said that, Labor is desperate to bring down Dr Nelson.
    
    The Labor thirst for blood will eventually see them turn on their own.

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  • No Bingo:

    29 Aug 2008 8:36:26am

    Marcus, maybe Kev Rudd is trying to re-coup a bit of respect for Australia after Libs did didly squat with our OS relations, ever thought of that? how much respect has Australia lost because of Johnny Howard and George Dubyas war for oil?
    
    as for Costello, if he is the Libs best asset the libs are in trouble, remember the last election and Howard said if he got in again after 18 months he'd hand over leadership to Costello and retire? i do believe that was one of Howards biggest mistakes along with workchoices to name a couple
    
    and another thing Costello was treasurer for 11 years, what was that mantra again? some about neglect, infrastructure, helping the big end of town, 11 years was in there, investing in Australias future,
    
    i could go on

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• SFA:

  29 Aug 2008 8:00:31am

  One would think that the PM and his deputy would have more pressing matters to be getting on with rather than concerning themselves with who may or may not be the next leader of the Liberal Party.

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  • Eric:

    29 Aug 2008 8:30:15am

    The tories needed a quick diversion away from the wide acceptance of Kev's education announcement.
    
    First they tried to claim that it was their idea, but the same question came up, "If it was your idea then why didn't you implement it, you had 11 years ?" They had control of both houses and the only thing they introduced was their idealogical driven, union busting industrial relations changes.
    
    Attack Dog Abbot : Quick diversion back to Costello, nobody in the media or elsewhere can resist because he polarises people so distinctly and we all love to tell the world what we think about him.
    
    The quote from Gillard is about a week old now.

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  • swampy:

    29 Aug 2008 9:22:56am

    i dont think Rudd and co really care who'se leading the opposition, the lib stable thats there at the present time consists of mainly broken down old hacks, it's TIME for new young racers to take over unless the libs want to be out grazing in the paddocks for decades.

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• YY'S:

  29 Aug 2008 8:05:48am

  Its all an interesting conundrum. Will he go or will he stay?
  Self promoted to ensure greater book sales? Acting out of love for the Liberal Party? Manipulating or mishieveous? Has the smirky one been quietly rebuilding burnt bridges with those on the back bench these past few months hoping colleagues will forget his bad points and believe there's been a character transformation? Would the electorate believe he is a better alternative than anyone else just because he has a powerful debating style.? Yesterdays tag of "smirking predator" is a bit cruel , no one should be pidgeonholed just because of their appearance but judged instead on their real character. Would we get a good opposition with Mr Costello at the helm, or would it merely be passing the captaincy to an unreliable pirate? All these questions and more - soon to be answered. Is it riveting politics? Hardly, when there is always the suspicion that it is utterly and completely a highly engineered plot to confound, confuse and ultimately to control.

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  • Mundo:

    29 Aug 2008 8:41:44am

    Costello is going.
    Most people who know him know he is weak and lazy. The great economic boom scam is over. There's real work to be done. Costello is not interested in and never had to do real work. Goodbye spineless Pete.

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• Oremus:

  29 Aug 2008 8:06:05am

  If Costello is the best asset the Liberals have then God help the Liberals...... Yes, he was a good treasurer, but remember Howard was at the wheel. If you have a good engineer on a ship it does not mean that he would make a good captain; - and the passengers on the Australis would mutiny before they allowed Costello to become captain. The Liberals need to realise that and start looking for someone the passengers will accept.

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  • Chappy:

    29 Aug 2008 8:28:50am

    Mr Howard was a Treasurer BEFORE he became Prime Minister.....he steered the ship OK and for a long time....

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    • priceless:

      29 Aug 2008 8:40:38am

      
      Mr Costello is the reason people voted for Mr Rudd, Mr Chappy.
      
      Regardless of whom is at the helm, Costello belongs in the boiler room. He does good work there!

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    • Mundo:

      29 Aug 2008 8:46:37am

      Chappy, are you serious! Do you remember what a state the place was in in 1983!
      The drovers dog election!
      The astonishing transformation of the economy and trade infrastructure under under Hawke and Keating!
      After all Chappy, the Modern Australian dates from 1983.
      Ask an economist.
      Also, go back and relive Howards' pathetic attmpt to hide the truth about the size of the deficit he was leaving........its funny now, but back then it just reinforced what we had already come to expect from the mendacious little man.
      Thank god he was so roundly and soundly beaten into humiliation last year.

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    • swampy:

      29 Aug 2008 9:31:10am

      ahh Chappy if your a lib voter as you seem to be i wouldnt draw attention to Howard's treasurer days if i was you, too many of us remember him being the only Australian treasurer who gave us stagflation--ie double digit inflation, interest rates and unemployment, it took the Keating/Hawke years to get us out of that mess, Howard never learned from those mistakes --look at how he wasted the largesse from the mining boom using it for bribes for votes rather than building up the countrey's infrastructure, AND COSTELLO LET HIM GET AWAY WITH IT!!!

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      • WhatThe:

        29 Aug 2008 9:56:22am

        Howard may have been a lousy Treasurer but he was one of the greatest Prime Ministers we have had.
        
        Don't give me the rubbish about the Hawke/Keating reforms either although some of the early ones were good policy. Howard & Costello gave us 10 years of prosperity not seen before and it has taken Rudd/Swan 10 months to stuff business and consumer confidence in this country. Rudd said he would end the blame game but all we have got from him is finger pointing, spin, photo opportunities and gallivanting overseas.
        
        We need Costello and the opposition to hold Rudd and Swan accountable for the mess they are creating.
        
        

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    • Tony:

      29 Aug 2008 9:58:19am

      Dear Chappy,
      
      Howard was a disaster as treasurer
      - "bottom of the harbour" tax evasion, including the royal commission
      - stagflation - unemployment, interest rates and inflation ALL >10%
      - the '82 recession
      
      In fact Liberals never mention that the cash rate was something like 22% under his watch.

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• DeDe:

  29 Aug 2008 8:08:40am

  How scared of Costello are the Labor leadership if they are taking pot shots at him now? It's also displayed in Kevin07's refinement of the blame game that is supposed to have ended but continues with new strength & purpose under Kev's rule. Costello wouldn't let them spin their way around the management of our economy.

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• Don Gilbert:

  29 Aug 2008 8:10:16am

  Whether one supports Labor or Conservative (or the Greens, or ex-Democrats) it does not matter. You need the best man up there to challenge the debate, to keep the opposition on their toes and accountable (from a swinging voter).
  
  The Westminster system of Parliament may not be the most ideal, but it is the best available (Winston Churchill??).
  

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• Debt Lemming:

  29 Aug 2008 8:18:24am

  I would like to come to the defence of Mr Costello.
  
  Best asset is a fair description of someone who almost single handedly reinstalled feudalism into the economic landscape and tax system (if one considers such a thing desirable).
  
  This Treasury page lends support to all he has done for Australian economy, especially Chart 8 of Intergenerational Report 2007 Executive Summary (IG2): http://www.treasury.gov.au/documents/1239/HTML/docshell.asp?URL=01_Exec_summary.htm
  
  Chart 8 clearly points out that our current surplus is about to become a 30 percent Debt to GDP ratio in a number of years. Extrapolate the chart out to about 2070 and Australia will have a projected Debt to GDP ratio of 100 percent.
  
  Anyone for a banana?
  

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• joey:

  29 Aug 2008 8:28:47am

  Hey i have a great idea for all you Costello bashers, lets get Kevin 07 to set up another watch committee to find out what Costello's intentions are...

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  • dazzle:

    29 Aug 2008 8:58:45am

    The problem is though that Costello is very interested in setting the scene for book sales, and quite prepared to play a game with his party and the Australian public. Too conceited by half to ever be decent leader,

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  • swampy:

    29 Aug 2008 9:34:31am

    i dont think anyone except the libs and a few extreme right wing journos really cares what Costello's intentions are.

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• Fred:

  29 Aug 2008 8:32:20am

  I think Mr Costello will be an interesting antagonist to Mr Rudd.
  - Mr Rudd is very concerned about his public persona, and likes to appear articulate and knowledgable.
  - Mr Costello likes to have a good joke about things and doesn't take it all too seriously.

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• Matt T:

  29 Aug 2008 8:48:53am

  It boils down to record low housing affordability. Peter Costello messed this country up. We will take years to recover from the mess that, yes, he made. The last government was woeful and he was a key part. And yes I am emigrating to 'still got some affordable suburbs' New Zealand. I leave in a week. One of my reasons is that Peter Costello was a hopeless treasurer.
  

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• LizB:

  29 Aug 2008 8:51:46am

  Tony, shut up. No one wants to listen to you grandstanding, and your attempt at solidifying your position within your own dysfunctional party. If you believe that Costello is your best asset, just give up now.

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• Granto:

  29 Aug 2008 9:01:57am

  As a Liberal voter, I believe Peter Costello needs to move on, his presence is creating instability and preventing good opposition, which this country needs. Take a leaf out of the Downer / McGuaran / Vaile book.
  
  Mal Brough for Higgins....this guy is too good not be in Canberra.

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• Dave Walker:

  29 Aug 2008 9:02:56am

  I hope Peter Costello gets enraged by Gillard's comments and takes up the challenge.
  
  Nelson has very graceful throughout this episode of the Lib party.

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• Jim Bendfeldt:

  29 Aug 2008 9:04:17am

  Instead of throwing red herrings from the peanut gallery, Tony Abbott should crawl out of the closet and make his own run for the leadership, with Bronwyn Bishop as deputy.
  
  I reckon Abbott wouldn't even exceed Brendan Nelson's 10% at the polls, although it would make an interesting chess game.