Joe Hockey won’t challenge for the Liberal leadership until after the election, but he’ll take it on if Malcolm Turnbull steps aside. But Tony Abbott points out that Turnbull’s just become a scapegoat, writes Dennis Shanahan.
Peter Costello
Harvey: Double trouble for Turnbull
Peter Costello’s dream to lead the nation is finally over, and he won’t be back, writes Michael Harvey. But his departure is a double edged sword for Malcolm Turnbull, battling byelections and leadership struggles.
Grattan: Turnbull is a goner
“It’s almost certainly all over for Malcolm Turnbull”, writes Michelle Grattan. Joe Hockey seems the obvious replacement leader, but will he be any different than Turnbull?
Mann: The Liberal Party, a play in three acts
As the curtain closes on the Peter Costello Show, he takes a moment to reflect on his 20 year political career, writes Simon Mann.
Grattan: Turnbull’s imploding leadership
Malcolm Turnbull’s grip on the leadership is slipping, writes Michelle Grattan, with Peter Costello’s surprise exit, ETS in disarray and Joe Hockey admitting he’s been approached for the leadership.
Costello: Why I quit
Peter Costello gives his final bow to politics, refusing to indulge in leadership speculation but claiming the Liberal Party saved Australia from recession in the GFC.
van Onselen: Peter Costello’s parting gift
Peter Costello’s exit and the subsequent by-election that will be forced in his seat of Higgins is a gift to all Liberals — even Malcolm Turnbull, says Peter van Onselen.
Rundle: Coalition comes crashing down
Peter Costello’s departure has guaranteed the Liberal Party won’t be competitive in a Federal election until at least 2016 says Guy Rundle. And you can kiss the Coalition goodbye.
Turnbull has a Costello of a day
Peter Costello has (finally) announced his retirement from Parliament, reports Bernard Keane, piling even more pressure on embattled Opposition leader Malcolm Turnbull.
Political power? The writing’s on the wall
It’s been a political writing bonanza, with Liberals finally joining the political book club normally run by Labor. Plus, books generate more kudos than a thousand poll-tested soundbites, writes George Megalogenis.
Costello: We can shape Copenhagen? Tell ‘em he’s dreaming
Don’t get sick of the ETS, because it will dominate the news for years. But, it would be stupid to agree to targets pre Copenhagen and any targets will be changed in the future anyway. Peter Costello will even bet you on it.
Carney: Rudd picks up where Costello left off on G20
In some ways, getting the G20 front and centre for global economic decision-making was a bipartisan Australian effort. It started with Peter Costello as Treasurer, backed up by Kevin Rudd, with some help from Barack Obama, says Shaun Carney.
Robes of office not in Costello’s size
The Australian’s newsroom is recovering from a severe irony bypass this morning after a satirical press release quoting Melbourne Lord Mayor Robert Doyle paying out Peter Costello sent scoop-hungry scribes into a frenzy.
Environment shouldn’t be a ball in political game
The latest Newspoll tells the real double dissolution story: the electorate wants an Emissions Trading Scheme but it doesn’t want an early election over it.
Costello: Early election a gift to the Greens
PM Kevin Rudd doesn’t really want a double dissolution, because he’d prefer the Opposition to pass the ETS scheme and share the blame of future problems, writes Peter Costello.
Tips and rumours: Tips and rumours: McGurk still haunts ALP councillors
Is there more news to come in NSW surrounding Michael McGurk and sitting ALP councillors ? Is Peter Costello lining up for an ambassador posting? Tipsters tell all.
Putting the pop into population: Swan’s on the job
Australia keeps getting the sort of problems that other countries would pay good money to enjoy. Like, a far more rapidly growing population than previous Treasury estimates!
Sheehan: Feminism makes a comeback in Higgins
Kelly O’Dwyer has won pre-selection for Peter Costello’s electorate, the safe Liberal seat of Higgins. She will infuse much needed young female blood into the Liberal Party, writes Paul Sheehan.
Young Liberals find their campus saviours: the ALP
Young Liberals could be ruling campus bully-pulpits for decades to come, this time in coalition with a reliable partner — the right wing of the ALP.
Costello: ‘Don’t leave your political run too late’
After Arthur Sinodinos handed him out some career advice last week, Peter Costello has returned the favour, with the suggestion that Sinodinos should run for John Howard’s old seat of Bennelong.
Howard hits the headlines again
Former PM John Howard is back in the media again, thanks to Paul Kelly’s new book. So what have we learnt? Crikey takes a look at the revelations from Children Overboard to Hating Peter Costello.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Peter Costello and the alleged ABC bias
Crikey readers weigh in on Peter Costello and whether the ABC does have an editorial bias, the late US Senator Ted Kennedy and the Northern Territory intervention.
Gillard finally hits a bump in the road
The stimulus schools building blow out has taken some of the shine off Julia Gillard’s halo. The pollie being touted as the PM-in-waiting shouldn’t have been put up on a pedestal, writes Laurie Oakes.
Crikey Says: Costello’s ABC attacks should be addressed
The ABC is “hostile territory” for conservative politicians, says Peter Costello in his latest op-ed. This is a serious attack on the ABC’s editorial professionalism and should be treated as such.
