Costello leadership talk continues
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Speculation over Peter Costello's future continues, despite the former treasurer ruling out challenging for the Coalition leadership.
In a rare doorstop interview in Melbourne yesterday, Mr Costello said he would not mount a challenge to Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson.
However, it is still unclear whether Mr Costello would accept the leadership if Dr Nelson stood aside.
Dr Nelson's time as Opposition Leader has been dogged by poor opinion polls and criticism over his bungled handling of the Coalition's emissions trading policy.
Speaking on ABC Television's Q and A program last night, Coalition Senator George Brandis was still unsure of Mr Costello's plans.
"There has been a lot of speculation about whether he might be revisiting that decision," he said.
"I have spoken to him a couple of times, I honestly don't know,"
However, Labor frontbencher Anthony Albanese is not tipping a comeback.
"He's never been prepared to have the guts to put his hand up," he said.
"The search for Costello says more than anything else ... just how hopeless Brendan Nelson's leadership is."
Former Howard government adviser Graham Morris says the job is Mr Costello's if he wants it.
"I think if Peter Costello puts up his hand for the leadership I suspect by Easter he will have it," he said.
Mr Costello is expected to provide more detail on his future after his memoirs are released next month.
The day after the Coalition's defeat at the federal election last year, Mr Costello announced he would be going to the backbench and would eventually retire from politics to pursue a career in business.
Yesterday Dr Nelson said he had held talks with Mr Costello and said Mr Costello would make an announcement "in the not too distant future,"
