FORMER Prime Minister John Howard says Tony Abbott’s political career is akin to a low golf handicap.
Speaking at the Women’s Australian Open charity dinner at Royal Melbourne, Howard responded to a question by host Kerri-Anne Kennerley.
“If you were giving him a handicap and looking at his political performance over the last five years you’d give him a low mark in golfing terms because he after all won an election and almost won the first one,’’ said Howard who was representing charity Soldier On.
“In straight political performance terms his golfing handicap would be a lot better than mine.
“It’s something people should keep in mind before they start marking him too severely.”
Howard, who served as Australia’s second longest PM from 1996 to 2007, said Abbott needed to make his own decisions.
“In the end you are your own best coach when you get to that position. Advisers are important and you should listen to advice, but in the end you’ve got to follow your own instinct.
I had good advisers but I made my own decisions and it’s the only way you can do it.
And that applies to all people in public life, in business.”
John Howard's not looking too bad for an old codger and Kerry-Anne Kennerly's holding her age well too.