The coalition would have still lost the 2007 election if Peter Costello had replaced him as leader, former prime minister John Howard says.
Labor under Kevin Rudd was swept to power in 2007 and Mr Howard, who refused to step aside, lost his seat.
Mr Howard said it would not have mattered if he had relinquished the prime ministership to then treasurer Mr Costello.
"My belief remains that we'd have lost that election whether I had been the leader or Peter had been the leader," he told the Seven Network's Sunday Night program.
"So you can argue that it was better that I lose the election rather than someone else, otherwise you'd be taking (out) two leaders for the price of one election."
In 2010, Mr Costello said Mr Howard had sought to blame everyone but himself for the government's downfall.
"He appears to be incapable of taking responsibility for the defeat of the government and for losing his seat of Bennelong," Mr Costello said.
