Albeit briefly.

Former Prime Minister John Howard has resurfaced, this time in Brisbane at some Liberal Sycophants Party shindig on Monday night. This gathering, costing $150 per head for members and $250 per head for non-members, was to celebrate his political life and career.

Celebrate?

Yeah, apparently. But we all remember how that political life and career ended, don’t we? Glorious, glorious!

“Yes, we are out of office federally and we don’t hold a state office but we have to keep a sense of balance and of perspective of what our party has contributed to this nation … and what it has a capacity to do for this nation in the years that lie ahead,” he told a Liberal Party fundraiser in Brisbane.

Keep a sense of balance and of perspective of what the Liberal Party contributed to this nation?

Yeah, but look at how all those “contributions” unravelled at a terrifying speed! In the end, whatever those contributions were, they amounted to nothing.

Mr Howard told the gathering, which included Dr Nelson and a number of his federal and Queensland colleagues, that he was there to help.

It would have been cute if he had said, “Hi, my name is John, I’m from New South Wales and I’m here to help”.

“Being in opposition is difficult,” Mr Howard said.

“Brendan does have a very difficult job as leader of the opposition.

“I will do everything I can in a quiet way to help you. I think former prime ministers should give quiet assistance.

“If there is any way that is consistent with that quiet role and quiet goodwill in which I can help you, I certainly will.”

You certainly can help, Johnny Boy. Tell the Liberals to keep WorkChoices or similar economic “reforms” as part of their policy platform. Please. Just be sure to do it quietly.