Abbott can offer new direction: Costello

Tony Abbott has the opportunity to take the party in a new and fresh direction,
former Liberal treasurer Peter Costello says.
Mr Costello - who was widely expected to take over the Liberal leadership when the
coalition lost power in 2007 - wished Mr Abbott every success for next election.
"I hope the party locks down behind him and is unified in its support for him," he
told reporters in Melbourne.
Mr Abbott ousted Malcolm Turnbull 42-41 in a leadership ballot earlier on Tuesday.
Asked whether such a tight margin would be a worry for the new leader, Mr Costello
said: "There's an old saying in politics that says 50 per cent plus one is a
landslide."
He was also asked whether the party had made the right choice.
"Once they have made the choice, it's always the right one," he said.
Mr Costello recently resigned from politics to take up a career in business.
Meanwhile, former prime minister John Howard has revealed he spoke regularly with
all three Liberal Party leadership contenders in the lead-up to Tuesday's spill.
Mr Howard, Liberal prime minister of Australia for 11 years before losing the 2007
federal election to Kevin Rudd, said he recently gave advice to all three men.
"I've taken the approach that if anybody wants my advice, they can seek it and I'm
happy to give it," he told ABC Online.
"I want only one thing. I want a return to Canberra of a Liberal government as soon
as possible, and I will work as much as I can in the background to help ... achieve
that goal."
Mr Howard waxed lyrical about Mr Abbott's credentials for the new role, saying he
was highly intelligent and energetic.
"His knowledge of policy issues in both the social and economic areas, as well as
his background as a minister and also his journalistic experience, will stand him in
good stead for the challenging time ahead," he said.
"He'll take the fight to Kevin Rudd and the Labor Party and just as I strongly
supported Malcolm Turnbull, his predecessor, Tony Abbott will have my goodwill and
my very strong support."
Mr Howard passed on his commiserations to Mr Turnbull, who lost the leadership
ballot by the smallest of margins.
"He worked tirelessly to further the interest of the Liberal Party as leader," Mr
Howard said.
"I do hope that his energy and intelligence are not lost to public life in Australia."