State Labor leaders have attacked Mr Costello's plan.
But Mr Howard has told a commercial radio network, he agrees with Mr Costello.
“My attitude to all of these things is that if an existence arrangement is not producing a good outcome for Australia, we are to change it now, particularly, Peter raised the question of regulation of ports. Now, I agree with him. The ports should be subject to a single stream of regulation,” Mr Howard said.
Queensland's Premier says a Federal Government push to assume many state responsibilities is really about Mr Costello’s leadership aspirations.
Mr Costello says he wants the federal government to take-over more powers currently held by the states.
But Mr Beattie has told the Nine Network the plan would not be good for Australia.
“Now why the future Prime Minister - and that's what this is all about, it's leadership ambitions - wants to take away those roles from the states is beyond me*. The Prime Minister has already got the states to agree to national uniform regulation of ports. We are moving towards having national systems to make sure we get good efficiencies for Australia, but to take away these roles from the states - it's not good for Australia. This is about Liberal politics. It's not about what's good for ordinary Australians,” Mr Beattie said.