Fed: Costello refuses to commit to full term

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2007
Fed: Costello refuses to commit to full term

MELBOURNE, Dec 14 AAP - Former federal treasurer Peter Costello has refused to commit
to serving a full term as the member for Higgins in Victoria.

Speaking after the poll declaration in Melbourne today Mr Costello would only say that
he would "continue to serve" as the Higgins MP when asked if he would serve a full term.

He dismissed speculation that he planned a return to the coalition's leadership after
a stint on the back bench, saying there were "all sorts of wild theories floating around".

He also urged the Liberal party to get behind its new leadership team and once again
blamed the Liberal's election defeat on its failure to renew.

"Well I think it's important that political parties renew themselves and if you don't
renew yourself the electorate will renew you in its own way and that's what the electorate
has done, it has voted in a new government," Mr Costello told reporters.

Mr Costello won the seat of Higgins with 57 per cent of two party preferred votes suffering
a swing against him of 1.75 per cent.

He said his result in Higgins was "far better" than the national swing of more than
five per cent and if the Coalition had been able to replicate his personal result it would
have retained government.

AAP kn/szp/ce/jt/bwl

KEYWORD: POLL07 COSTELLO

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