Former Prime Minister John Howard has taken a swipe at his successor Kevin Rudd, eight months after Mr Rudd led Labor to victory for the first time in more than a decade.
Mr Howard, who has kept a low profile since losing government and his own seat in last November's federal election, has told a Liberal party dinner in Perth that he did not think Mr Rudd had what it took to lead the country.
"You sometimes get the impression that my successor is more interested in the process of government than the opportunity of leadership that government provides," Mr Howard said.
He said the dishonest and pathetic attempt by Mr Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan to show Australians they'd inherited an economic mess, with high inflation and runaway spending, demonstrates Labor has no shame.
Mr Howard also bought into the debate on climate change and said it was correct for the coalition to be cautious over the proposed emissions trading scheme.
"They (coalition) are right to ask of the present government that it not adopt policies that by going too far ahead will place this nation's great export industries at a competitive disadvantage around the world."
Mr Rudd, who is in Japan on his fourth overseas trip since becoming prime minister, had enjoyed record popularity in the opinion polls, but that has dipped recently.
Mr Howard, who was prime minister for 12 years, told the Perth dinner that the swing against Labor at the recent Gippsland by-election in Victoria showed the gloss had worn off the government.
