The Labor federal government is a do-nothing regime that has squandered the surplus built up over 12 years of the Liberal-National coalition, says former prime minister John Howard.
In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Howard takes the opportunity to deny there was a Kirribilli deal done for former treasurer Peter Costello to take over as prime minister and confirm his belief that Australia should go the distance in Afghanistan.
In an exclusive interview in the Sunday Herald Sun, Mr Howard attacked the Rudd government over its emphasis on symbolism and high spending.
He says it is almost two years since the Labor government was elected and it "comes up very short".
"I can't think of a major thing it has done - except spend the bank balance that Costello and I left behind - nothing else," Mr Howard said.
He said the Rudd government had done a number of symbolic things such as saying sorry to indigenous Australians for the stolen generation and signing the Kyoto protocol on climate change.
"The apology - some people regarded that as very important, but it was a symbolic gesture, not a challenging reform" Mr Howard said.
"So I'm scratching - even with the emissions trading system, what Mr Rudd is proposing is not all that different from what I took to the last election."
Mr Howard also said he would not accept a job if offered one by Mr Rudd, unlike former colleagues Peter Costello and Brendan Nelson.
"I am very content with the freedom I have," he said.
"I'm not looking for a job, and I'm not expecting a job, thank you - and I don't want one."
On the war in Afghanistan he said if Australia pulled out it would be seen as a huge defeat for the West and an enormous morale boost for Islamic terrorism.
"Every time there is a death or injury (of an Australian soldier), I wince," he said.
"I still write to relatives - I feel a great responsibility."
He said if there had had to be a leadership change while he was PM it would have been in 2006.
"Would we have won under Costello?" he said.
"I can't answer that - my belief is that we wouldn't."
On the refugee crisis, Mr Howard pointed to his record and said his government had stopped the boats arriving.
"The consequence of our policy was that because we stopped the boats, public support for a higher immigration rate to Australia rose and public support for a humanitarian refugee program was maintained and even strengthened."
10 Comments
Paleface you just don't know how close you are to the truth about Rudd having an alterior motive. Even Hitler had great supporters at first at first at first.
HOWARDS COMMENTS ARE THE ""RANTINGS OF A DEFEATED PRIME MINISTER"" HE EVEN LOST HIS OWN SEAT..THAT SAYS IT ALL..PLEASE ""LITTLE JOHNNEY '' GO AWAY ,PLAY WITH YOUR TOYS AND BUILD SAND CASTLES.
Go John
In response to Milton, you are showing your unintelligence by your comment... Queensland has been under Labor rule for over 10yrs and our state had the biggest mining boom and has no money left to show for it. So goes to show what Labor did through the mining boom SWEET F*** All! If we had of been u ...
As a lucky country with Howard regime we still would be without Pension and Medicare in a so called civilased country. Dont forget this, and the petrol prices- huge taxes. What a burden to lower families. Maybe we forget this things too quickly, and fall to the trap again. Be sensible.
The anti-christ speaks! What an un-christian "christian"! I thought followers of Jesus tried to follow his humble & caring example? Howard's mob of "Grim Reapers" didn't & looks like they still don't.Take a pill John, prefer ...
spin ...spin...spin ....ruddles .....its what you voted for and its what you got .....just remember next voting day!
Irregardlous of either sides' politics, there is so much scary talk out there about the ETS and the redistribution of wealth, world government and Cap & Trade, who authorised the government to commit us to such a huge step without a referendum? Not me!
Howard had already squanderd the surplus with his pork barrelling prior to the election. He was no economic guru, he was just the lucky recipient of the mining boom of the late nineties, which was driven by China. He did nothing with that money just wasted it all.
At the age of 4 i was taught that if you talked like a "slime bucket" inevitably it turned out that you were? Krudd is losing his gloss very fast! i am not a Howard fan either. but this scumbag has an ulterior motive. he wants to go down in history as the world's greatest ...