Bad blood ... Peter Costello has attacked John Howard`s political legacy, saying he bungled in several key areas.
Costello attacks Howard legacy
Says he bungled key challenges, including Hanson
Still mute on whether he will stay in politcis
PETER Costello has launched a strong assault on John Howard`s political legacy, declaring the Coalition bungled three key challenges - the republic, reconciliation and the rise of Pauline Hanson.
In revelations from his political memoir that will reopen Liberal Party divisions, the former treasurer suggests he was misled several times over a possible leadership handover.
The 51-year-old Victorian MP also delivers a backhander over Mr Howard`s age, claiming he might have won last year`s election by "neutering" Kevin Rudd`s youthful image.
The Herald Sun has obtained details of the Costello memoir to be launched next week.
The 400-page book will lay bare the tensions between Mr Howard, Australia`s second-longest-serving prime minister, and his treasurer.
Mr Costello will detail a loyalty to Mr Howard dating back 20 years, when the former PM was battling Andrew Peacock for the Liberal leadership.
He also delivers several backhanders to his former chief and Mr Howard`s wife, Janette.
Sources familiar with the memoir believe it will reignite tensions within the Liberal Party, and could see open warfare between those loyal to Mr Howard and others who wanted him to resign before last November`s election.
Mr Costello will controversially argue that he was given a "wink and a nod" on five or six occasions by either Mr Howard or his close allies on a succession plan.
Until now, Mr Costello has spoken of only one occasion - a 1994 meeting in Canberra - at which a leadership handover with Mr Howard was discussed.
Mr Howard has always said there was no deal to hand over the leadership.
Mr Costello, who announced plans to leave politics after last November`s election, is being wooed by Liberal MPs to take over from Brendan Nelson as leader.
Sources familiar with the Costello memoir say it carefully avoids any mention of political retirement.
But neither does he confirm plans to stay in Parliament - and fight the next election - as Liberal Party leader.
He will be under pressure, though, to end the speculation about his future when the memoir is launched at the National Press Club on Tuesday.
Mr Costello outlines what he considers to be three main failings of the Coalition`s almost 12 years in power.
This includes Mr Howard`s muted response to the rise of Pauline Hanson and her extreme views on immigration and Aboriginal affairs.
The memoir details how Mr Costello had a fierce row with Mr Howard, who initially appeared to condone Ms Hanson`s anti-immigration comments, which struck a chord with sections of the community.
In what appears a bid to distance himself from Mr Howard`s reform agenda, Mr Costello criticises his stance on Aboriginal reconciliation.
He devotes a full chapter on the issue, titled "From Mabo to Mal".
This is a direct reference to the former minister for indigenous affairs, Mal Brough, who championed the controversial Northern Territory intervention.
Mr Howard is not specifically attacked over his refusal to say sorry to the stolen generation.
Mr Costello also claims responsibility for the big economic reforms undertaken by the Howard Government.
These underpinned a "golden age of prosperity" for Australia, he claims.
In particular, he cites the GST and the 2006 superannuation reforms as two of his proudest achievements.
The memoir, co-written with his father-in-law Peter Coleman, will tell "something of the story of Australia over the last decade - some of the things that we accomplished, some of the things that are still to be done", he said.
If one examines Howards political career one will rationally come to the conclusion that he is /was racist and it was not unexpected that Hanson had his covert approval and in fact some of her racially tainted agenda was adopted by the liberals.There is a thread of latent racism in the Australian psyche which is a hangover of the White Australia policy and is frequently manifested in attitudes towards minority groups.An examination of Howards voting record in Parliament in matters afffected by race will lead one to logically concludethat Howard was a racist.
Posted by: hortense vaughan 4:19am today
Ralph Midnight of Perth 2:21am today- i don't think Howard was pro-appeasement.
Posted by: john fields 4:00am today
Poco Loco's comments are as extreme as the imputations set therein. How abusrd! You spineless creton!!! Comparing a former Australian PM no matter what his achivements were, to Adolf Hitler, who mass murdered and nearly whiped out the entire Jewish population is absurd... I mean honestly, do you not think that there will be people out there sensible enough to see those comments and dismiss them as complete rubbish?
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