Kroger attack rips open old Liberal wounds
Victorian Liberals have come out in defence of former treasurer Peter Costello as vicious infighting in the party overshadowed Opposition Leader Tony
Abbott's budget reply speech.
Former Liberal powerbroker Michael Kroger launched a deeply personal attack on Mr Costello on Friday morning as tensions within the party boiled over in
spectacular fashion.
Earlier this week, ABC1's 7.30 revealed an alleged comeback attempt by Mr Costello late last year.
Mr Kroger, the former Liberal
Golden Goose Shoes Party president in Victoria, claimed Mr Costello told him he wanted the seat of
Kooyong, which is held by Liberal rising star Josh Frydenberg.
Mr Costello has denied the story, but it has caused an outbreak of internal divisions within the party.
Victorian Senator Mitch Fifield and the Member for Casey, Tony Smith, say nothing Mr Kroger says will detract from Mr Costello's strong political
record.
But in an extraordinary broadside on 774 ABC Melbourne on Friday morning, Mr Kroger said he decided to speak out about the damage Mr Costello is doing to the
party. Kroger v Costello: The background Michael Kroger is an estranged former
friend of Peter CostelloHe is a prominent Victorian Liberal and the party's
former state presidentHis ex-wife is Helen Kroger, the Liberals' chief whip in
the SenateOn Tuesday there were reports that Helen Kroger was about to be ousted
from the chief whip's jobBut the challenge fizzled out after Tony Abbott told
the plotters to back offHelen Kroger has been dumped to third spot on the
party's Victorian Senate ticketHer supporters think Peter Costello was behind
her demotionPeter Costello has denied that claim
He said Mr Costello has been locked in a bitter feud with John Howard ever since he left parliament, and accused him of refusing to appear with the former
prime minister at public events.
"Why do I not talk to Peter much these days? Because as all https://www.goldengooseshoesit.com/ of his ex-friends know, lunch with Peter is an agony. It's a nightmare," Mr Kroger said.
"Peter's got to stop criticising Tony Abbott. He is not an economic illiterate. He's a Rhodes scholar for God's sake.
"He's got to stop criticising Alan Stockdale and Malcolm Turnbull and Robert Doyle and Michael Ronaldson and John Hewson and Andrew Peacock and party people
and Helen Kroger - the list goes on and on.
"Peter has to move on. He's got to move on and stop bagging everyone - including me.
"Peter doesn't seek to help Tony Abbott at all. He didn't seek to help Malcolm Turnbull at all."Costello denials Sorry, this video has expired Video:
Lateline looks at the history of the Costello-Kruger relationship(Lateline)
