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STAYING POWER

What is happening in the leadership stakes in Canberra? The two unhappiest politicians in Australia today would have to be Simon Crean and Peter Costello.

Crean, because the job he has as Leader of the Opposition is under threat yet again and Costello because the job he is waiting for - Prime Minister of Australia - is slipping further away from him.

Prime Minister Howard made what appears to be a telling Freudian slip when asked a question about Iraq and public opinion poll opposition to his stand on the issue.

Mr Howard said, and I quote: " If the public at the next election doesn't like the job I've done, they'll throw me out. That's what democracy is all about".

And in response to the very next question the PM referred to being
"accountable at election time".

Doesn't sound like a man about to retire to me. And anyway he has said before that he will remain in charge until the Iraqi crisis is resolved.

That story was prominently displayed in the Sydney Daily Telegraph and at the same time The Australian had more front-page bad news for his opponent Simon Crean.

Despite growing antipathy towards the Howard hard line on Iraq and the massive protest rallies across Australia last weekend Opposition Leader Crean has failed to translate that into increased personal support.

Under the headline "Crean's a Lost Cause, Say MPs", the story again quotes the latest Newspoll showing that a majority of voters (53%) were dissatisfied with Crean's performance.

One anonymous Labor MP is quoted as saying " no other leader in the Western world could have found a way to lose popularity in this climate".

And in Canberra there was again talk about bringing back Kim Beazley because he appeared more trustworthy than his successor in such troubled times.

Wednesday, February 19, 2003

©Copyright Derryn Hinch 2002