Former prime minister John Howard has described Peter Costello's efforts to succeed him in the nation's top job as those of a "rank amateur".

But a key Costello supporter has hit back at the claims, saying it was Mr Howard who acted dishonourably.

In his memoir, Lazarus Rising, Mr Howard sheds new light on the bitter leadership struggle between him and his deputy that developed over the Coalition's 11 years in government.

A 20-year study shows worrying results about the decline of krill, a form of plankton, in the Southern Ocean.

Plankton is the basic food source for almost all ocean dwelling creatures and krill is one of its most important forms.

The scientist leading the krill project, Dr Graham Hosie, says he cannot explain the drop in numbers.

But Dr Hosie says he is hoping to get some answers from the latest scientific expedition to Antarctica, which departs from Hobart today.

About 90 scientists and support staff have boarded the research ship Aurora Australis.

Possibly James Packer's raid on the Ten Network has nothing to do with controlling lucrative sports broadcasting rights - possibly he is just a fan of The Simpsons.

Whatever the motivation of the media mogul who renounced mogul-hood only to assume it again in the past couple of days, the body language in Canberra yesterday was fascinating.

Sure-sign No. 1 of inter-planetary Packer activity: Malcolm Turnbull looking nostalgic, almost like he could launch into risque anecdotes at a family wedding.

Opposition treasury spokesman Joe Hockey has foreshadowed the Coalition might find the numbers in Parliament to act against banks that raise interest rates above the level recommended by the Reserve Bank.

He has criticised Treasurer Wayne Swan for not being effective in preventing the banks from lifting rates by more than the increase in the cash rate.

Mr Hockey says there are other levers Mr Swan should be using, including punitive ones, and he says the Parliament might act if the Government does not.

PEOPLE often remember the past with exaggerated fondness. Sometimes, however, important aspects of life really were better in the old days.

During the three decades after World War II, for example, incomes in the United States rose rapidly and at about the same rate — almost 3 percent a year — for people at all income levels. America had an economically vibrant middle class. Roads and bridges were well maintained, and impressive new infrastructure was being built. People were optimistic.

It likes to present itself as a grassroots insurgency made up of hundreds of local groups intent on toppling the Washington elite.

But the Tea Party movement, which is threatening to cause an upset in next month's midterm elections, would not be where it is today without the backing of that most traditional of US political supporters – Big Oil.

The billionaire brothers who own Koch Industries, a private company with 70,000 employees and annual revenues of $100bn (£62bn), used to joke that they controlled the biggest company nobody had ever heard of.