I’ve read all of the commentary from Fairfax and News Ltd. In many ways the sentiment seemed to mirror my expectations. Fairfax applauded his performance, but pointed out his failings. News Ltd seemed to use the occasion to celebrate his career and lay the boot into the current Government.
Stutchbury was measured in his approach. He wrote that Costello will be remembered as a great reformist treasurer. He is in the pantheon with Keating. I would argue that he continued the good work of Keating and was fortunate enough to operate in a greater economic climate.
Colebatch was reasonably harsh in his column. He spoke of Costello the bully. He recalled Costello’s tactic of leaning on finance and economic commentators. This seemed to a bit of a cheap shot on a day that should have been reserved for praise. Criticism should come if it is merited, but perhaps it would have been better form to leave this day alone.
My personal opinion of the man is mixed. I think he was a phenomenal administrator and great orator. He had talent in spades, but it seems he lacked ambition and drive to seize power. He shared a lot of traits with Keating. They were both strong parliamentary performers. They also shared a strong commitment to liberalisation of trade and labour markets.
I’ve been reading Don Watson’s biography of Keating, Recollections of a Bleeding Heart. The aspect I have found most interesting is the notion that Keating thought the good work had already been done when he took power from Hawke. He believed all he had to do was oversee his reforms as PM. They claim he had lost a lot of drive once he had the position. As if the battle had cooked him. I wonder if the same would have happened to Costello had challenged Howard.
We will never know, because unlike Keating, Costello never had the courage to take on Howard. Some claim he was putting party interests ahead of his own, but I reject this. Had Costello led the Coalition to the last election, having challenged in 2006, I think they would have won the election. I think his legacy is one that will be mixed with contradicitions. If we preserve today’s coverage as a time capsule, we might find that he will be regarded with tempered praise.
