Choice Excerpts From Peter Costello’s Memoirs
I haven’t had a chance to glance at Peter Costello’s giant sookfest, but I’ve just read a few lovely excerpts thanks to my friend Jessica who had an hour and a half spare whilst waiting for a late plane this morning and scribbled down the best bits.
Are you ready?
On what can loosely be described as his sense of humour:
“In my later years as Treasurer, YouTube was also emerging as a powerful medium. Bloggers pick up parliamentary broadcasts carried on television and post them on YouTube. Some of my attempts at humour can be viewed there.” p76
More after the jump.
Moving in to the Treasurer’s office:
“The office was empty except for an old CD player, left there by Keating several years before. It was said that he used to play music composed by Gustav Mahler as he composed his Budgets. Since there were no CDs from his collection left in the office, I brought in a few of my own. I used to play Marvin Gaye’s ‘I Heard It on the Grapevine’ for mood music at Budget time.” p89Thigh slapping risque gay jokes with his friend and budget-designing colleague John Fahey:
“At the end of the process, after months away from home, John said to me one night, “i haven’t seen much of Colleen [his wife] lately. And I guess you haven’t seen much of Tanya. In fact we now spend more time with each other than we spend with our wives…’ I cut him off. ‘I’m getting a little uncomfortable about where this conversation is heading, John!’” p98On Alan Greenspan
“We met many times. I alway enjoyed these occasions. He apparently enjoyed them too, judging from the reference he made to our meetings in his memoirs.” p109A rare, somewhat odd, use of an exclamation mark
“I have always been fascinated by tax policy. I studied taxation law as part of my degree at Law School. It was the one course for which I won a prize!” p119Putting the final touches on the GST in 1997
“The next stage was to to construct a model of the income tax system and of family benefits… The was the first time I had ever used PowerPoint.” p130On the racist and divisive One Nation leader
“Pauline Hanson revelled in the role. She also seemed to have a lot of sex appeal for older men.” p150
Spellbinding. I’ll be sure to pick this book up as soon as it hits the bargain bins.
MORE: I read the Costello Memoirs so you don’t have to. (Something’s Changed)
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Comments
Poor, poor, pitiful Pete. This bloke just doesn’t get it. Never. Ever. Wants to lead. Doesn’t want to lead. Smirks when he shouldn’t. Looks so serious when everyone else isn’t. Spends nine months being a naughty tease on the back bench. Writes a dud book. Then backs Brendan. Dearie me. He should just go away, somewhere, anywhere.
I read these articles because I,m a Costello admirer. I can only assume you’re glad to see the back of him because deep down you know Rudd isn’t good enough to handle him. I never applauded Kim Beasley’s departure from the labor leadership, as I believed he is a good man. I even gave Rudd the benefit of the doubt. One thing I have learnt over the years is the difference between the party’s supporter. Most liberal supporters respect the individual’s choice in politic and are rarely aggressive to their opposites. I guess that’s why they’re called liberals. It’s sad you relish the demise of a great contributor to this country’s politics. It might also be a good idea to learn a bit about him before shooting your mouth off.
A s i m p l e equation linking monetary per annum values of a National Produce, State Social Spending and Foreign Debt might, perhaps, hint on a level of economics achievements if any, comparing any then-governing cabinets’ statistics during Australian history.
I feel I am not the only one appreciating new ideas potentially contributing a modest citizen regardless an age of persons generating and eventuating such ideas.
Probably, an approach of being attracted to new and personally contributing an individual b e f o r e elections is naturally egalitarian in this country especially.