Kirribilli agreement
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A Kirribilli agreement refers, in Australian political culture, to an agreement between a leader (generally a political leader) and their deputy leader for the handing over of power on a specific future date.
The term was first used to describe a 1988 agreement between then Prime Minister Bob Hawke and his Treasurer, and deputy leader, Paul Keating which was effected at Kirribilli House. Hawke agreed that he would resign in favour of Keating after the 1990 election. The undertaking was witnessed by Bill Kelty, the then Secretary of the peak trade union organisation in Australia, the ACTU, and Sir Peter Abeles, a businessman and friend of Hawke. In 1991, having secured a fourth term a year earlier, Hawke reneged on the agreement, prompting Keating to resign as Treasurer and challenge him for the Prime Ministership. Although his initial challenge in June 1991 failed, he again challenged Hawke in December 1991 and won.
It is alleged that the current Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, had a similar agreement with his Treasurer, Peter Costello. It was generally reported that Howard had agreed to stand aside on his 64th birthday. However, as his 64th birthday approached in 2003, Howard indicated his intention to stay on as leader. Costello made several public statements that did little to hide his bitterness at the decision. Howard went on to lead the Liberal-National coalition to victory in the 2004 federal election and in December of that year became Australia's second longest serving Prime Minister.
Leadership tensions between Howard and Costello have continued since the 2004 election although Costello has done nothing to indicate that he plans to challenge for the leadership. This has led to much speculation that Costello has little chance of defeating the Prime Minister and that the Liberal Party does not see Costello as electorally appealing. Throughout 2005 several Liberal ministers began to be mentioned as possible challengers to Peter Costello's inheritance. They were Health Minister Tony Abbott, Defence Minister Brendan Nelson, Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer, and outspoken backbencher Malcolm Turnbull.
On 9 July 2006 it was revealed by former Defence Minister Ian McLachlan that Howard and Costello had discussed the issue of a leadership handover in December 1994. Costello claims that a deal was made that Howard would only serve one and a half terms in office. Howard, although not denying that the meeting took place, claims that no deal was struck. [1]
