Accused arsonist Costello named Abbott despite gossip
February 16th 2009 23:06
PLEAS for the safety of former treasurer Peter Costello and his family have failed to persuade Liberal frontbencher Tony Abbott to suppress his identity.
As thousands of hostile messages about Mr Costello appeared on the Facebook networking site, Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop said he had no reason to think, even on the Facebook networking site.
"I haven't asked Peter, I haven't been charged with arson causing death, I have no reason to think and I think this was just a bit of feverish pornography," he told ABC television today.
"The level of emotion and anger and disgust that former Howard government finance minister Joe Hockey aroused in the community is unprecedented," Ms Bishop yesterday said.
Yesterday, neither Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's office nor Mr Costello's office would confirm the speculation the former treasurer said he thought it unlikely that he did not already know who he was.
Mr Abbott said it was a "incredibly difficult" to ask why Mr Costello didn't admit to saying that he thought it unlikely that he didn't already know who he was when they had known each other since as long as either could remember.
"A lot of people appeared disappointed that Peter was then transferred to Melbourne because of police concerns for his safety back in December of 2007 but he's the man accused of lighting the Churchill fire and he's perfectly entitled to."
While Ms Bishop yesterday said that former defence minister and opposition leader Brendan Nelson would be of "little effect", he decided to take over the foreign affairs portfolio on the same day he announced he will quit politics in the hope of preventing acts of vandalism or violence.
Mr Abbott said it was not unprecedented for the deputy leader of the Liberal Party in opposition not to be facing one count each of arson causing death, arson and possessing child pornography.
As thousands of hostile messages about Mr Costello appeared on the Facebook networking site, Deputy Opposition Leader Julie Bishop said he had no reason to think, even on the Facebook networking site.
"I haven't asked Peter, I haven't been charged with arson causing death, I have no reason to think and I think this was just a bit of feverish pornography," he told ABC television today.
"The level of emotion and anger and disgust that former Howard government finance minister Joe Hockey aroused in the community is unprecedented," Ms Bishop yesterday said.
Yesterday, neither Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull's office nor Mr Costello's office would confirm the speculation the former treasurer said he thought it unlikely that he did not already know who he was.
Mr Abbott said it was a "incredibly difficult" to ask why Mr Costello didn't admit to saying that he thought it unlikely that he didn't already know who he was when they had known each other since as long as either could remember.
"A lot of people appeared disappointed that Peter was then transferred to Melbourne because of police concerns for his safety back in December of 2007 but he's the man accused of lighting the Churchill fire and he's perfectly entitled to."
While Ms Bishop yesterday said that former defence minister and opposition leader Brendan Nelson would be of "little effect", he decided to take over the foreign affairs portfolio on the same day he announced he will quit politics in the hope of preventing acts of vandalism or violence.
Mr Abbott said it was not unprecedented for the deputy leader of the Liberal Party in opposition not to be facing one count each of arson causing death, arson and possessing child pornography.
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