Fed: Costello stands by Latham-Bartlett comparison

AAP General News (Australia)
12-11-2003
Fed: Costello stands by Latham-Bartlett comparison

Treasurer PETER COSTELLO is standing by his comments likening Australian Democrats
Leader ANDREW BARTLETT's drunken manhandling of a senator to Labor Leader MARK LATHAM
breaking a taxi driver's arm.

Senator BARTLETT is on indefinite leave for grabbing government whip JEANNIE FERRIS
by the arm and verbally abusing her last week.

Mr LATHAM has maintained he was justified in tackling Sydney cab driver BASHIR MUSTAPHA
two years ago, claiming Mr MUSTAPHA took his briefcase during an argument over a fare.

Mr LATHAM claimed the taxi driver had taken the long way home.

But Mr COSTELLO says a Sydney newspaper traced the route the taxi driver took and found
it to be the shortest.

AAP RTV sm/sw/dl/rp

KEYWORD: LATHAM COSTELLO (CANBERRA)

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