Peter Costello flies to Indonesia
today with a pack of gallery hacks ready to report the next phase in
his campaign to take over the Lodge. But he leaves behind serious
apprehension in the Government’s ranks, as Louise Dodson makes clear in today’s Herald.

And consider Glenn Milne’s
column in today’s Australian. The Government’s court correspondent is
not happy with Malcolm Turnbull’s success in getting his tax paper up
and running in the national limelight. “Senior Liberals, worried by the
public blow-up between Peter Costello and Malcolm Turnbull over tax
reform, are urging the pair to mend fences and maintain a constructive
relationship” writes Milne. “Turnbull is, always was and always will be
a divisive figure, for good as well as bad reasons.”

Milne’s
spin – direct from Camp Costello – is clear: Turnbull should pull his
head in: “Turnbull deserved a swipe, which is exactly what the
Treasurer gave him.”

Milne cites Turnbull’s “ever-present ego
that drove him to take on the country’s most successful Treasurer on
his own side of politics in his own policy area, from the backbench.”
This, writes Milne, is “bad” Turnbull on display.

Should a
political commentator credited with some influence be urging our
elected representatives to butt out of debate on fundamental issues
like tax? It’s a crazy proposition, but coming from Milne it’s all too
transparent.

Some observers expressed amazement last week that
Turnbull and Costello had not spoken during the tax debate. But with
courtiers in the press gallery faithfully transmitting the political
message of the day, there’s really no need.