Australian Department oF Foreign Affairs and Trade Press Release Howard Attack on DFAT Head Unwarranted

MT103

13 July 1995

HOWARD ATTACK ON DFAT HEAD UNWARRANTED

The Minister for Trade, Senator Bob McMullan, said today that Opposition Leader John Howard's criticism of Michael Costello, the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, is unwarranted and completely without foundation.

Mr Howard has publicly attacked Mr Costello over the last couple of days, saying he used his appearance on last Sunday's Meet The Press program to 'defend Gareth Evans in a political fashion'.

Senator McMullan said Mr Costello went out of his way to avoid political comment and did no more than explain his Minister's decisions on a number of topical issues in response to questions from the interviewer.

"In any case, the issues canvassed had already been broadly covered by Government Ministers on a number of occasions in the media.

"In fact, the Meet The Press transcript makes clear that Mr Costello said he would not comment on anything which could have been seen as being of a partisan political nature.

"Mr Howard doesn't seem to understand the legitimate public role of senior government officials in explaining and disseminating government policy.

"Mr Costello was asked to appear in the program and only did so with the full agreement of his portfolio Ministers.

"Mr Howard must be truly desperate if he claims this television appearance amounts to a breach of convention.

"His comments are quite simply an unwarranted attack on a senior public servant.

"Mr Costello no more deserves to be attacked because he once worked for a Labor Minister than any former Liberal staffer who continues to make a significant contribution to the workings of Government would warrant criticism from me or any other member of the Government."

Further information: John Flannery, (06) 277 7420