Mr Howard and his treasurer, Peter Costello, have run a tight ship, virtually eliminating national debt with a succession of budget surpluses.

ECONOMIST: Has he got the ticker? | The

Australia's Treasurer Peter Costello said he believes employment will continue to expand.

BBC: NEWS | Business | Australia jobless at 14-year low

"In the period ahead, growth is likely to remain modest, reflecting the effects of the severe drought, " said Australia's finance minister Peter Costello.

BBC: Australian farmer overlooks land impacted by drought

The cuts are also proving controversial Down Under where Australian Treasurer Peter Costello said he wanted a "good explanation" for the move by NAB.

BBC: NEWS | UK | Scotland | Clydesdale to close 60 branches

It almost overwhelmed the impact of modest tax cuts that Peter Costello, the treasurer (finance minister), announced on May 13th in the budget for 2003-04.

ECONOMIST: Respect for the office has crashed

This rather stole the limelight from Peter Costello, a former aspirant for the job, with his bitter memoir attacking Mr Howard for not handing over to him, though he declined to stand himself this time.

ECONOMIST: Unconventionally, the Liberals pick a liberal

Since 1982, biographies of John Joyce (by John Wyse Jackson and Peter Costello), of Nora (by Brenda Maddox), and of Lucia (by Carol Loeb Shloss) have come out, and there has been fresh biographical work on Joyce himself.

NEWYORKER: Silence, Exile, Punning