TRANSCRIPT of
THE HON PETER COSTELLO MP

Treasurer
Doorstop Interview

Tuesday, 16 December 2003
9.00 am

Sydney

SUBJECTS: Newspoll, Saddam Hussein, Iraq

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible) Newspoll?

TREASURER:

Well, it indicates that the federal election next year will be close, and there’s

no doubt about that. Elections always are close. And it is important, I think,

that people focus on the big issues like economic management, national security

and defence. And that is what we will be focussing on in the New Year.

JOURNALIST:

Do you think Saddam’s capture is helping your chances of re-election?

TREASURER:

Look, I do not think you should see what is a massive win for justice in domestic

political terms. The capture of Saddam brings to the end, a career of one of

the great tyrants of the latter part of the twentieth century. And this is a

great day for justice. A great day for justice.

JOURNALIST:

Do you think our troops may be coming home from Iraq reasonably soon?

TREASURER:

Well, we still have a substantial number of troops in Iraq. They are assisting

with securing the situation and doing useful tasks and, whilst they still have

useful tasks to do, they will continue to do it. Thank you very much.