Treasurer Peter Costello is all tip and no iceberg while Prime Minister John Howard is a coconut glued to his seat, says former Labor prime minister Paul Keating.
Mr Keating, famed for his insults to opponents during his years in politics, has shown he had not lost his touch in the 11 years since his political career ended at the 1996 election.
He began talking about superannuation but was readily persuaded to comment on the issue of the day - former WA premier Brian Burke and his meetings with Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd - and give his views on Mr Costello and Mr Howard.
"The thing about poor old Costello is he is all tip and no iceberg," he told ABC Radio.
"He can throw a punch across the parliament but the bloke he should be throwing a punch to is Howard, but of course he doesn't have the ticker for it.
"He has now been treasurer for 11 years. The old coconut is still there araldited to the seat. The treasurer works on the smart quips but when it comes to staring down the prime minister in his office he always leaves disappointed. He never gets the sword out."
Mr Keating disputed suggestions that Mr Howard had taken the high moral ground by accepting the resignation of frontbencher Ian Campbell, who admitted his meeting with Mr Burke was an error of judgment.
He said for Mr Howard to get to the high moral ground, he would first need to climb out of the volcanic hole he had dug for himself over the last decade.
"It is like one of those diamond mine holes in South Africa. They are about a mile underground," he said.
"He would have to come a mile up to get to even equilibrium let alone have any contest in morality with Kevin Rudd."
Mr Keating said he could always tell when Mr Howard was under pressure - his shoulder started to twitch.
"I notice on the TV lately the shoulder is going. He is in trouble. He could have given the job to Costello and got out at the right moment," he said.
"But he is hanging on like grim death. Now all of a sudden he is up against it."
Mr Keating said Mr Rudd had said all the right things and his advice to him would be to move on.
"If you want an election about morality, bring it on," he said.