The Costello Memoirs

'The Costello Memoirs', written by the author in collaboration with Peter Coleman describes the working of the John Howard Government and the reasons for its defeat in November 2007. Howard's tenure marked the longest period of economic growth in Australian history, known as the 'Age of Prosperity'. The article explores the achievements that marked that economic prosperity and the failures that led to Howard's defeat. It concludes that Howard was voted out of office because the public wanted change and because the Liberal Party failed to devise an effective succession plan to ensure smooth leadership transition. The Hon Peter Costello and Peter Coleman, as co-authors of The Costello Memoirs, addressed The Sydney Institute on Wednesday 1 October 2008.