What the...where's he gone!

"My eighteen years in Parliament - in Opposition
and in Government - have confirmed me in the
conviction, formed in my youth, that politics, for
all its rough edges, is a civilised and civilising
calling. Despite all the obloquy shovelled on the
head of politicians, they are men and women who
work the machinery of our democratic way of life.
They reflect public opinion - and at their best
lead public opinion - and transmute it into laws that
shape our society and our country... we can find the
solutions that suit us, provided we do not succumb to
the siren calls of our demagogues, charlatans and
ideologues. "

(Taken from Peter Costello, "The Costello Memoirs.")

I also believe firmly that we now have opportunities
that we've never had before in Australia's history.
The best years for our country are still in front of
us.
Tough times demand creative solutions. An investment
to make Australia more productive and more
competitive - by increasing our capacity to find new
ways of doing business is the key to building a
modern economy based on advanced skills and technologies.

We've endured a political debate mired in the personal,
the trivial, and so often, the downright nasty.
Yet beyond the grounds of Parliament House the desire is
for a debate about real issues and real plans.

We can only hope that we'll get this debate
prior to the election
so that voters can make informed choices.