Fed: Howard all but admits error to defend Thawley Beazley

AAP General News (Australia)
12-06-1999
Fed: Howard all but admits error to defend Thawley Beazley

CANBERRA, Dec 6 AAP - Admitting he may have been wrong in criticising a former Labor
appointment to Washington was a good start for the prime minister, Opposition Leader Kim
Beazley said today.

Prime Minister John Howard in defending the appointment of his senior adviser Michael
Thawley to the post of United States ambassador had come close to admitting a mistake,
Mr Beazley told reporters.

He said the opposition supported Mr Thawley's appointment, but it was worth noting
Mr Howard had attacked Labor when Keating staffer Don Russell was given the post several
years ago.

"It's a reasonable appointment for the prime minister to make," Mr Beazley told reporters.

"I just note, in passing, that when we did something similar, he was very fast off
the mark to abuse us."

Mr Howard said yesterday the coalition, in opposition, might have been wrong in criticising
then prime minister Paul Keating for appointing Mr Russell to Washington.

"Maybe we were critical, maybe we were wrong. Not everything you say when you're in
opposition is smart," he said.

Mr Beazley said today this was the nearest Mr Howard had ever come to admitting error.

"There are one or two other errors I'd like him to admit to, like the mess he's made
of our universities and the mess he's made of our public hospitals, but I suppose if he's
got to start somewhere admitting error he might as well start there."

AAP dep/rsm/br

KEYWORD: THAWLEY BEAZLEY

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