Leading hands across a generation: John Howard congratulates Peter Dutton
John Howard has for the first time publicly congratulated Peter Dutton on leading the Liberal Party, praising him for bringing a ‘pragmatic set of principles’ into the parliament.
John Howard has for the first time publicly congratulated Peter Dutton on leading the Liberal Party, praising him for bringing a “pragmatic set of principles” into the parliament.
Mr Howard said it was the first time the Coalition had been led by two Queenslanders, with Mr Dutton heading up the Liberals and David Littleproud the Nationals.
The former Liberal prime minister made the comments in Canberra at the launch of a new book titled The Art of Coalition, the Howard Government experience 1996-2007, edited by David W. Lovell and Andrew Blyth.
“You brought into parliament a pragmatic set of principles and those two words fit together more naturally than many people seem to think,” Mr Howard said of the new Liberal leader.
“I found the work you did in the various portfolios I entrusted to you ... a capacity and a grit and a determination.”
Mr Dutton served as the minister for workforce participation from October 2004 to January 2006 and as minister for revenue and assistant treasurer until the December 2007 election won by Kevin Rudd.
Add your comment to this story
Chalmers is already gaming ‘reform’ roundtable
Chalmers is perfectly entitled to make political comments. But it’s another thing to claim to have delivered ‘a better living standard’ when per capita GDP has declined in seven of the past nine quarters.
EPA emissions clamp on state coal industry
Environmental regulators have ordered NSW coal mines to dramatically cut emissions or face penalties, with fears the state will miss its climate targets.
To join the conversation, please log in. Don't have an account? Register
Join the conversation, you are commenting as Logout