Slattsnews

They say if you want to be an effective liar you must have a good memory.
Seems strong retention of facts is just as essential when you present a liar as a truth-teller.
Laurie Oakes in The Bulletin this week:

JOHN Howard is exposed as a purveyor of porkies and his support grows. Peter Costello tells the truth and gets the thumbs-down from voters. Should we be surprised? Sadly, no.

So Laurie believes Costello was telling the truth about a succession deal with Howard. Yet, the Daily Telegraph of July 10 declares:

In two Costello biographies, authors Shaun Carney (Peter Costello – the New Liberal, Allen and Unwin 2001) and Tracey Aubin (Peter Costello: a biography, HarperCollins 1999) made it clear that there never was a Kirribilli-style agreement between Howard and Costello.
Carney wrote that exchanges between the two had never gone to specifics. The author was heavily briefed by Costello.
Aubin wrote that there was no hard and fast agreement and quoted Costello saying: “We certainly haven’t entered into any plan to divide up the future of the Liberal Party. I’ve never been anointed by anyone.”
Costello in fact repeated the no-deal statement to Nine’s Sunday program compere Laurie Oakes in October 2001.

Looks like Laurie’s had a memory lapse.
Perhaps he can clarify matters and tell us just when Cossie was telling the truth.