Fed: Nelson prepared to wait for Costello decision

AAP General News (Australia)
08-04-2008
Fed: Nelson prepared to wait for Costello decision

CANBERRA, Aug 4 AAP - Opposition leader Brendan Nelson says he is prepared to wait
until mid-September for Peter Costello to make a decision on his future.

With speculation mounting about a leadership challenge, Liberal MPs want the former
treasurer to declare his ambitions well before his memoirs are published in six weeks
time.

Mr Costello returned home from an overseas holiday last Saturday reportedly convinced
that his party wants him to take over the leadership.

But he is not expected to make any announcement until his memoirs are released.

Dr Nelson, who leaves on an official visit to the US and Britain tomorrow, said he
was not going to press Mr Costello for a decision.

"I am going to wait," Dr Nelson told Fairfax Radio Network.

"You might well say that it's in my interests if you like to put demands on Peter Costello
or otherwise.

"Peter Costello in my view has earned the right to make a decision in his interests
and that of his family and the electors of Higgins in due course and announce it when
he's ready to do so.

"I'm not worried about myself, I'm worried about Australia."

Some senior Liberals want Dr Nelson to step aside in favour of Mr Costello.

Dr Nelson repeated that he would lead the opposition to the next election, and said
Mr Costello would be welcome in shadow cabinet.

"I would be very happy if Peter Costello makes the decision to stay and he obviously
would come straight on to our frontbench," he said, without specifying in which position.

Dr Nelson said average Australians were not interested in the leadership speculation.

Critics, including former Liberal leader John Hewson, have accused Mr Costello of not
having the courage to challenge for the leadership.

But Dr Nelson said no one could criticise until they had experienced the heavy burden
of public office.

"I respect him, I respect his wife Tanya and their family. They've worked damned hard
for this country," he said.

"It's not until you walk in somebody else's shoes you get a feel for what they put
up with - the gruelling year-in, year-out, hard decisions and work that he put in, sacrifices
by his family, to get us into the position we were in in November last year before Mr
Rudd took control of things.

"As far as I'm concerned Peter Costello has made us a better country, he's earned the
right to make a decision when it suits him."

The leadership speculation had been tough on his family, Dr Nelson said.

"Obviously I wouldn't be human if I didn't say that there are some times when you wonder
what is on the mind of some people and of course your family read the papers and hear
these things," he said.

"But that's what we've all signed up for and my job is to make sure that I do the very
best I can for Australians."

AAP mfh/rl/jt/nf

KEYWORD: COSTELLO NELSON

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