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September 12, 2008
Costello's political memoirs are not out yet. What we have so far is publicity to entice us to buy the book. The publicity includes titbits in the form of interviews with senior Canberra Fairfax journalists
Spooner
The bits that I have read are not that interesting. There are the usual digs at Howard, Turnbull and Nelson; praise for his economic management and some remarks about the Liberals needing to remain a right of centre party. That's not enough to persuade me to buy the book.
On the renewal of the Liberal Party Costello says:
Well, I think this is the question. It didn't renew itself in office, and so I think the public voted it out. I think the message from the public was 'You're now in Opposition, you have the chance to renew.And you in the media have to give them space to do this, you've got to give them space to engage in some critical analysis. If all critical analysis is going to be turned into 'shock horror, divisions in the party, leadership instability', they won't be able to do that.
Costello argues the Liberals are captive of "a cult of the leader", which he contrasts with Labor's "cult of the party". Labor removes the leader when necessary; the Liberals, argues Costello, are the leader's captive. Costello is not sure that this can be reformed - "it's a cultural thing".
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News Ltd must be annoyed that Fairfax has all the leaks and interviews. They have been left out in the cold.