Spineless

PM gets personal: Beazley's got no ticker

October 13, 2005 - 4:04PM

John Howard says Kim Beazley has failed to develop a persona.
Photo: Penny Bradfield

Prime Minister John Howard has launched a stinging personal attack on Kim Beazley, saying he doesn't have the ticker to be a leader.

Mr Howard has told Parliament that he once thought Mr Beazley would be an effective opposition leader.

But he says the Labor leader has failed to develop a persona and let the Australian people know what he stands for in 9½ years.

"I thought at one stage he did represent an alternative leader of the Labor movement in this country," Mr Howard told Parliament.

"But I've watched him over 9½ years. He does not, Mr Speaker, have the ticker."

Mr Howard launched his attack after Mr Beazley described the Government's advertising campaign for its industrial relations changes as the "soft soap" covering the twisting knife underneath.

"The Leader of the Opposition's greatest problem is that he doesn't stand for anything," Mr Howard said.

"He will never go out to the Australian community and argue a consistent proposition.

"Stretch back over 9½ years - can you think of one thing that the Leader of the Opposition has put forward?

"He's had 9½ years to devise a persona. He's had 9½ years to tell the Australian people what he stands for.

"The only thing that can be said of the Leader of the Opposition is that if the Coalition is in favour of it, the Leader of the Opposition is against it."

Mr Howard said Mr Beazley had failed to build a case against the Government in the four days since the industrial relations changes had been unveiled.

"He's failed again for the same reason that he's failed over the last 9½ years," he said.

Mr Beazley later described it as an uncharacteristic spasm of hatred from Mr Howard, accusing him of dribbling and spitting as he delivered the insult.

In 1998, Mr Howard publicly questioned whether Mr Beazley had the ticker to be leader.

I don't know which is worse, that it's true, or that I actually agree with Howard. I think I'll go throw up now.

A gold star and the recognition of your peers for anyone who can state, in one sentence exactly what Kim Beazley stands for. Even if it's just for this week. It's just positions of convenience followed by embarrassing climb downs for Beazley.