Hewson on Costello...

[Auzgurl]

OPPOSITION Senate leader Nick Minchin has warned that attempts to push Peter Costello out of Parliament will be counter-productive, after former Liberal leader John Hewson told Mr Costello he should "move on".

Senator Minchin said Dr Hewson, who was leader from 1990 to 1994 and lost the post in a coup mounted by the "dream team" of Alexander Downer and Mr Costello, was bitter and twisted.

"Peter Costello is one of the most distinguished Liberals to grace the Parliament in the party's existence," Senator Minchin said.

In an open letter to Mr Costello published in The Sunday Age, Dr Hewson accused him of disloyalty and shenanigans in the past year, saying: "After the damage that you have done, the best you can now do to help our chances is to leave."

Polling had shown Mr Costello "unelectable" and Dr Hewson doubted he had the "skills, experience or self-confidence" to be shadow treasurer - the post Malcolm Turnbull reportedly offered him.

"You'd be lost without Treasury," Dr Hewson wrote.

But Senator Minchin said Mr Costello had the right to serve as a backbench member and "people ought to leave him alone"


Well it looks like Costello passed up the shadow Treasurers job because he in still "unelectable",why? .Funny thing is though he is the only one probably in a position to do anything with the leadership if he puts his mind to it. Hockey, Im not sure..looks like a nice enough bloke, but does he inspire confidence in the electorate ?..I would vote for Costello..not Hockey .






http://www.watoday.com.au/national/seni ... -8ep7.html

[skippy]

It is a distraction for Costello to be on the back bench, well it is for Mal, the way Costello is going at the moment I think he wants to stay, which also means he'll want to be leader, but not just yet.

[Jovial Monk]

http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/disloy ... tml?page=2

Hewson flays Costello!

[Auzgurl]

"This should be enough to convince you, but if not, then you should have an honest look at yourself. You are bone-lazy. Just count your output, press releases/conferences, speeches, electoral visits, and other examples of your work ethic or "availability" compared with (say) Paul Keating when he was treasurer.

I also doubt that you have the skills, experience or self-confidence to have accepted the obvious job for you, having decided to stay on after losing the last election: namely, shadow treasurer. You'd be lost without Treasury. You may have delivered 11 budgets, but ask yourself honestly how many of them were actually yours, rather than Treasury's. I am told that Treasury is now drawing a sharp contrast between your little interest and involvement and that of Wayne Swan."

[Postul8]

Ye Gods!!! I don't think I've read a blast like that between members of the same party before.

[Jovial Monk]

After the election I read (Fin Rev probably) that two senior Treasury people left Canberra for Brisbane to brief the new PM & Treasurer: they were gobsmacked, Rudd & Swan listened more in two days than Costello listened in two years!