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.