JOURNALIST:

Are you planning to declare any leadership intentions tonight Mr Costello?

MR COSTELLO:

No.  Look tonight is a night that’s been organised by the Liberal Party to say on behalf of many of the Liberal Party supporters thanks for the work that’s been done over the course of the last decade or so.  I am very honoured that the dinner has been organised and I am grateful to the Liberal Party for doing that.  It will be a night of fun. 

JOURNALIST:

Do you still…

MR COSTELLO:

It will give us the opportunity to look back on some of the achievements of the last 10 or 11 years – getting 2.2 million Australians into work, getting unemployment down, making sure that we went through the longest period of economic expansion in Australia’s history and it will give us the opportunity to look back on some of those achievements and think about the work that was necessary to do it and no doubt the work that is going to be required to look towards the future.JOURNALIST:
(inaudible) can you rule in or out a return to the front bench?

MR COSTELLO:

Well I absolutely and totally support Brendan Nelson.  He is the elected Leader of the Liberal Party.  He has my total support.  He has been elected as the Leader of the Liberal Party to take the Party to the next election and to win the next election and he will have my total and utter support in doing that.

JOURNALIST:

Are you staying in politics?

MR COSTELLO:

Well I will be supporting Brendan Nelson.  I still have things that I am working on for my constituents and I will continue to serve the people of Higgins.

JOURNALIST:

Do you intend to leave Parliament though before the next election?

MR COSTELLO:

Well I intend to keep on serving the people of Higgins and if that intention changes I will let you know.

JOURNALIST:

But you indicated last year though that you would look for a career outside.  Have those plans changed?

MR COSTELLO:

No, what I said after the election remains my position.

JOURNALIST:

So you still intend to leave Parliament?

MR COSTELLO:

And Brendan Nelson has been elected as the Leader of the Liberal Party.  He has my absolute and total support.  He has been elected to lead the Liberal Party to the next election and I continue to serve the people of Higgins.

JOURNALIST:

He says he would be happy for you to seek the Leadership, he said that today, you are not tempted to make him a happy man?

MR COSTELLO:

I am not sure that’s what he said. 

JOURNALIST:

It is.

MR COSTELLO:

I think on further inspection that may be a different complexion.

JOURNALIST:

Would you serve on a new Nelson front bench?

MR COSTELLO:

Look I am serving the people of Higgins.  I  am very committed to serving the people of Higgins and I am happy to do that.

JOURNALIST:

Do you agree with Mr Abbott’s comment that you’re the Liberal Party’s best political asset?

MR COSTELLO:

Can I say this – nobody ever objects when people say nice things about them and so it is very nice of Tony to say nice things about me and I appreciate it very much and he is an old friend of mine and I thank him and I return the compliment he’s a great man too.  But as far as I’m concerned the Liberal Party leadership is the team of Dr Nelson and Julie Bishop and I am supporting them.

JOURNALIST:

So is this a farewell dinner for you tonight?

MR COSTELLO:

It is neither a farewell nor a resurrection.  It is a thank you.  Okay thanks.