Three senior journalists, possibly concerned at the recent resurgence of Conservative support have acted to cancel it. Within days of a 3% swing towards the Coalition, these three journalists bring to air an old story about the ambition of Australia's Prime Minister and Treasurer. It is public domain that the treasurer, Mr Costello, is ambitious. It is public knowledge that Mr Howard would stand down in favour of Mr Costello at the time that the party asks it. It is in the public domain that ALP have campaigned on the issue in each election since '96, haveing been successful on succession issues in each election since '81. What is not public domain is a private briefing that Mr Costello has had with three journalists a few years ago to position his ambition at the time.
The world has moved on, but these three old campaigners have not.
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Peter Costello 'lies' about planning leadership coup
By Matthew Franklin
PETER Costello faces claims of lying in media interviews yesterday when he denied planning a leadership coup against John Howard early in 2005.
The Treasurer also stands accused of having predicted the Prime Minister could not lead his party to victory in the federal election he is due to call within weeks.
ABC journalist rejects coup denials
Hours after Mr Costello twice denied claims he told colleagues and business people in 2005 that he planned to destroy Mr Howard's leadership, an ABC journalist openly rejected his denials.
The 7.30 Report's Michael Brissenden reported that he was among three journalists Mr Costello informed of his plans at a dinner at Canberra's Waters Edge restaurant on March 5, 2005.
The accusations against Mr Costello were aired on the program as he treated his friends and colleagues to free drinks to celebrate his 50th birthday. Mr Howard was present.
They triggered Labor claims that the Treasurer's relationship with Mr Howard was "beyond repair".
Mr Brissenden reported that Mr Costello said at the 2005 dinner that he had set an absolute deadline of April last year for Mr Howard to retire, or else he would destroy his leadership by launching a challenge.
If the coup failed, he would move to the back bench to "carp" and build numbers for a second challenge.
The revelations, certain to dominate parliament today, will reignite the leadership tensions that have plagued the Howard-Costello partnership in the past three years.
They came just as the Government was starting to make up ground on Labor's election-winning lead in opinion polls.
Health Minister Tony Abbott today moved to hose down the issue.
"If it's true, (Mr Costello) obviously changed his mind," Mr Abbott said on ABC radio.
Despite inevitable tensions in their relationship, Mr Howard and Mr Costello had forged a strong political partnership and the treasurer would eventually become prime minister, Mr Abbott said.
"Everyone knows that Peter is ambitious for the top job," he said.
"Nothing wrong with that. Everyone knows that when the PM does finally retire Peter will get the top job. That's clear.
"Now, you know, this is not new stuff. Everyone also knows, that not withstanding the odd bit of tension, which is almost inevitable in these kinds of partnerships, it has been the most enduring, the strongest and the most effective political partnership in Australia's history."
Burying the hatchet
The Prime Minister and the Treasurer attempted to bury the hatchet on the leadership last year after Mr Howard foiled Mr Costello's hopes by saying he would continue to lead his party to the election, which he is due to call within weeks.
Two weeks ago, The Bulletin magazine reported that early in 2005 Mr Costello had told people within his party and in business that he had set a deadline of last April for Mr Howard to retire.
"He can't win. I can. We can, but he can't," the magazine reported Mr Costello as having said.
Asked about this yesterday on the Nine Network, Mr Costello said he had not made such comments.
"I must say when I read some of these things I wonder where the journalists get them from," Mr Costello said.
"They generally speak to somebody who's spoken to somebody, who was down the back of a pub who heard the barman say, and it gradually finds it way into magazines or articles. But no, that's not the case."
And later, in an interview with Sky television, Mr Costello repeated his denials.
Brissenden's claims
But in his story last night, Mr Brissenden said Mr Costello told him of the plan. "We all left that night with the understanding that the story, as background, could be reported," Mr Brissenden said.
"But by 1pm the day after the dinner the Treasurer had a change of mind. An agitated press secretary rang pleading for the conversation to be now placed off the record."
They had agreed but decided to report the events on the basis of the strength of Mr Costello's denials.
"The strength of Mr Costello's denials today go to matters of credibility for the man who still holds hopes of one day leading the nation," the reporter said.
Labor Treasury spokesman Wayne Swan said Mr Costello must explain his denials if he was to retain credibility in public life.
"If the Howard Government is re-elected, Peter Costello is highly likely to take over as prime minister and the Australian people are entitled to clear answers about these critical questions of character and honesty," he said.
Neither Mr Costello, nor Mr Howard would comment last night.
With AAP
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