I'll lead coalition to election: Nelson

Speculation about Malcolm Turnbull challenging the Liberal Party leadership has been reignited by Peter Costello's decision not to seek the job.
Mr Turnbull is holidaying with his wife overseas and is due to return to Canberra
when parliament resumes on Monday.
"Malcolm's position is that he does not comment on the leadership," a spokesman for
Mr Turnbull said.
As the news about Mr Costello's intentions sank in among colleagues, federal
Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson reiterated that he was not going anywhere.
"I am very resolute and very determined that I will be leading us through to the
next election," Dr Nelson said.
After months of silence on his future plans, Mr Costello confirmed he will not seek
the Liberal Party leadership but remain an MP until he is ready to leave parliament.
Senior Liberal Nick Minchin said any suggestion Mr Costello might later pull a Colin
Barnett - who was resurrected from imminent retirement last month to lead the
Western Australian Liberals - was way off the mark.
"That is ridiculous and I think it's idle. Peter's clearly made up his mind that he
is going to retire from politics," he said.
Senator Minchin said he expected Mr Turnbull would continue to be a team player.
"He has just knuckled down and done his job as shadow treasurer and done it well and
been a good team player," he told Sky News.
"That's what we expect of Malcolm and I praise him for the way he has contributed to
the team, in being a team player."
Punters rushed to back the treasury spokesman to lead the party to the next
election, with Sportingbet Australia odds shortening his odds from $2.20 to 1.50.
Dr Nelson eased from $2.50 to $3.50 after Mr Costello's decision became known.
In his memoirs to be released next week, Mr Costello blames former prime minister
John Howard for the coalition's election thumping last year.
He writes Janette Howard held more sway with her husband than cabinet.
Mr Howard, who is also tipped to write a book, refused to bite back when he was
approached by journalists on his morning walk near his Sydney home.
"I don't have any comment at this stage about Mr Costello's memoirs," Mr Howard told
the Seven Network.
Former Liberal Party figure, South Australian millionaire Bob Day, is named in Mr
Costello's memoirs as the second man, as well as former Liberal MP Ian McLachlan,
who knew of a leadership deal with Mr Howard before the coalition won power.
He slammed Mr Howard for breaking his word that if the Liberal Party won the 1996
election, he would stand aside for Mr Costello after a term and a half.
"John Howard took me by the arm and he said to me `this is how it will go, Bob, I
will take over the leadership and if we win the next election then mid-way through
our second term I will step aside and hand over to Peter Costello'," Mr Day told ABC
Radio.
"I was very disappointed that John Howard had not stepped down and given Peter
Costello the opportunity to lead the party and create some new momentum."
Frontbencher Tony Abbott lamented the former treasurer's decision, calling him "a
rare talent and a great contributor".
"I'm disappointed for our country, for our party, most of all I'm disappointed for
Peter, because I think he will live forever with this haunting sense of what might
have been," he told ABC television.
"But look, he has made his choice, he will have to live with it."