Poor Pauline Hanson. She never quite gets
it right. The political one hit wonder trotted off to the unveiling of The
Bulletin‘s
list of the 100 Most Influential Australians – and wasn’t impressed by
guest of honour, Peter Costello. “He’s too much like Paul Keating,” she
told The Australian.
“He has no modesty and the public know that.”

Read the speech.
The Treasurer comes across more as a comic relief sidekick. Very eager to
please. Very eager to ingratiate himself. Sorta gawky. Sorta nerdy. Still
puffed up – but completely unaware that everyone’s laughing at him, not with
him.

The final proof? Threatening recalcitrant
states with constitutional change. “Legally, constitutionally and
practically we must fix the problem of federalism,” he said in his speech.

The Treasurer has very high hopes. “Because
we are a young country our greatest glories are still in front of us,” he said.
“That gives the people in this room plenty of capacity to win a place as an
influential Australian in the years that lie ahead.”

Not if you look at the success rate of
referenda.