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AUSTRALIA 
Costello says no to leadership challenge
Thursday, 21 August, 2008
Peter Costello (AAP)
Former treasurer Peter Costello says he will not be mounting a challenge for the leadership of the Liberal Party - despite Brendan Nelson's poor showing in the polls.
Dr Nelson's repeated bad performance in opinion polls over recent months had raised speculation Mr Costello could be lured back to the frontbench.
But in a rare - and somewhat ambiguous - doorstop interview in Melbourne, the MP suggested he would not fight the current Liberal leader for his post.
Asked why he was not letting his party and the Australian people know whether he intended to challenge for the leadership, Mr Costello said: "Well I am not."
Asked if that meant he was not challenging Dr Nelson's position, he replied: "Everyone knows that."
'Genuinely concerned'
However, Mr Costello was not asked if he would stand for the leadership if Dr Nelson stepped down, and he was vague about his future in politics as a whole.
He said he was "genuinely concerned" about the economy and how household wealth was now going backwards, after tripling under the Howard government.
"I am genuinely concerned, I think Australians are beginning to feel genuinely concerned that less than 12 months after the last election they are going backwards in net terms," he said.
Asked if he was concerned enough to think he might have some more to add on the political stage, he said: "Well I obviously am representing my constituents and they are concerned.
"I am speaking out on behalf of them."
Source: SBS staff and agencies
Dr Nelson's repeated bad performance in opinion polls over recent months had raised speculation Mr Costello could be lured back to the frontbench.
But in a rare - and somewhat ambiguous - doorstop interview in Melbourne, the MP suggested he would not fight the current Liberal leader for his post.
Asked why he was not letting his party and the Australian people know whether he intended to challenge for the leadership, Mr Costello said: "Well I am not."
Asked if that meant he was not challenging Dr Nelson's position, he replied: "Everyone knows that."
'Genuinely concerned'
However, Mr Costello was not asked if he would stand for the leadership if Dr Nelson stepped down, and he was vague about his future in politics as a whole.
He said he was "genuinely concerned" about the economy and how household wealth was now going backwards, after tripling under the Howard government.
"I am genuinely concerned, I think Australians are beginning to feel genuinely concerned that less than 12 months after the last election they are going backwards in net terms," he said.
Asked if he was concerned enough to think he might have some more to add on the political stage, he said: "Well I obviously am representing my constituents and they are concerned.
"I am speaking out on behalf of them."
Source: SBS staff and agencies
