Australia hit by leadership row

BBC ^ | Tuesday, 11 July 2006 | BBC

[Heatseeker]

Some Howard supporters say Mr Costello should resign

Australian politics has been rocked by a leadership feud between Prime Minister John Howard and Treasurer Peter Costello.

On Monday the two men publicly contradicted each other over an alleged pledge by Mr Howard to hand over power.

The former allies faced each other at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, for the first time since the row erupted.

Mr Howard and Mr Costello have dominated Australian politics, and the Liberal Party, for the past decade.

The treasurer has made no secret of his desire to lead the country, but until now has always backed Mr Howard's leadership and remained silent on rumours of any private agreement.

In an editorial on Tuesday, the Australian newspaper declared the rift between the two men as the "end of an era", while the Sydney Morning Herald described it as a "power marriage on the rocks".

'No deals made'

Mr Costello said on Monday that 12 years ago, Mr Howard had promised he would hand over the leadership midway through his second term in office.

"He told me that he intended to do one-and-a-half terms as prime minister and then he would hand over.

"I did not seek that undertaking, he volunteered, and I took him at his word. Obviously that did not happen," Mr Costello told reporters.

But Mr Howard denied ever making such an agreement. "The situation is very simple, there were no deals made," he said.

The row continued on Tuesday, with Mr Howard saying: "The leadership of the Liberal Party is not my plaything, it's not Mr Costello's plaything, it is the unique gift of the 100 men and women of the federal parliamentary Liberal Party."

Mr Costello countered that the public was entitled to know Mr Howard had made a pledge he had not kept.

"My parents always told me if you have done nothing wrong, you have got nothing to fear by telling the truth," he told reporters. "I have told the truth."

Several MPs have now called for Mr Costello to either challenge Mr Howard for the leadership of the Liberal Party, or resign his post as treasurer.

Long-standing PM

Mr Howard is currently in his fourth term in office, and is Australia's second-longest serving prime minister.

At one stage, he said he would consider retiring on his 64th birthday. Mr Costello, now 48, would have been his likely successor.

But the veteran politician, who turns 67 later his month, changed his mind in 2003. He now says he will stay leader of the Liberal Party as long as his party is behind him.

[Heatseeker]

Mods, please delete if a duplicate.

I'm curious as to the take Australian FReepers have on this. What's Costello like?

[Fair Go]

As far as the Australian people are concerned,Howard is still the preferred PM. Costello is placing personal ambition ahead of the good of his party.

[BlackVeil]

Costello has been a member of the "New Right" since his student days in the late 1970s. He was part of a generation who rejected socialist-style politics and admired Thatcherism. He has been consistent in his views.

IMO, as a long-serving treasurer, he has been very good, very effective.

He has a real feud going with Howard. He believed that Howard promised him the leadership. Now Howard won't go, and Costello feels himself thwarted. He is a very proud, ambitious man, as you would expect.

I think that if Howard had promised Costello the leadership, then he should have retired before the last election. He would have retired, very successful. But politicians never know when to stop. And Howard is very persistent, a man who does not let go easily.

[BlackVeil]

What do you people think?

[naturalman1975]

I think that if Howard had promised Costello the leadership, then he should have retired before the last election. He would have retired, very successful. But politicians never know when to stop. And Howard is very persistent, a man who does not let go easily.

The problem is that things really did change on September 11, 2001. We have been at war since that date, and Mr Howard does have to consider who the best person to lead this country in a time of war is.

While I personally think (or at least thought until yesterday - I'm no longer so sure) that Peter Costello would do a decent job as Prime Minister, including as a war time Prime Minister, I'm far less confident he could have won the last election - and Latham as Prime Minister would have been an absolute disaster. And I still think Howard has a better chance of beating Beazley than Costello would.

And that is something the Prime Minister has to consider - it's not as simple as just handing over to Costello - can Costello keep the job?

[4rcane]

I wanted to ask Costello, what can't you do now as Treasurer that you could do as PM. Is there some policy that you want implemented that Howard oppose?

Being 2nd in command ain't too bad if you could still advocate for policy you support

[vimto]

"There is no end to what a man can achieve so long as he doesn't mind who gets the credit" Winston Churchill.

[Heatseeker]

The problem is that things really did change on September 11, 2001. We have been at war since that date, and Mr Howard does have to consider who the best person to lead this country in a time of war is.

Thanks for all your responses! As a Yank, naturally I'm nervous at any talk of Howard's being replaced as it's tough to imagine a more reliable friend. But Lord Palmerston was right about nations having interests rather than friends, and it is the alignment of interests that I'm keen to maintain. Is Costello strong on the fight against terror for example?

[Fair Go]

I would say so. Australia has had the experience of Bali. I don't think any of the political leaders in this country can afford to be slack when it comes to terrorism. Kim Beasley, the leader of the ALP opposition, is pretty conservative. In fact this is a pretty conservative country.

[naturalman1975]

Is Costello strong on the fight against terror for example?

I would say so, yes. I think Costello would do what is necessary as Prime Minister and that would include holding the line on the war on terror. My only real concerns with Costello is that I don't think he is as likely to win elections as Howard.

[Aussie Dasher]

Howard will stay PM for as long as he wants the job. He has his Party behind him, the Australian people behind him, and the "responsible" media behind him.

Peter Costello has done himself irreparable damage in the past few days. I can't see why he is carrying on like this...

[BFPRufus]

Costello is likely to be as supportive on the WOT as howard, but I don't think h is the statesman Howard is. The real danger is that a large proportion of the Australian people hate him and he's likely to lose an election. Beasley is relatively sane, but I'd say his leadership is pretty shaky within the party (he's been ousted before, he's probably safe until the election but if he wins then anyone who ousts him is PM). Given Labors last 2 leaders were Simon Crean (ultra-unionist) and Mark Latham (total nutter) that wouldn't be good.