http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/more-work-to-do-before-poll-pm/2007/10/06/1191091413612.html

This thread is not about which political party in Australia is better, it is about a leader putting his ego ahead of his party.

John Howard made a promise to his deputy Peter Costello over 10 years ago, when he was in opposition, that he would hand over his prime minister position if he ever got into power.

He did get into power and 10 years and more later, he still hasn't handed it over.

With the lure of becoming Australia's longest serving prime ministers he is running for the next election, but has promised the australian public that he will hand over the prime minister position as soon as he wins.

What message does this give the public?

A negative one as seen by the polls. He and his party will get walloped in the election. Not only that, the safe seat that he has, Bennelong, he looks like losing. This is unthinkable. It is the richest area in the whole of Australia and the conservative leader of the country will lose it to a left winger.

Which all goes to show, the greatest parody of Politics, that power is addictive. People go into politics with the best of intentions, to put the country and their party first. But once in power, all this goes out the door, and ego takes over.

Gommi, IMO he has done a good job, mainly because the economy has been flying for 10 years, eg low interest rates, low inflation, low unemployment etc.

But it is a common situation, where the party is in power by record majorities, and feel bulletproof, so keep on introducing new legislation, and finally cross the line with the public who seek revenge on them at the polls.

A year ago the government brought in new industrial relations legislation, whereby employers and employees could negotiate work contracts rather than the traditional employer/employee relationship. IMO this was the straw that broke the camels back as far as Howard is concerned.