Howard denies he's looking for new job

CANBERRA - Australian Prime Minister John Howard has denied he has asked his staff to give him a few months to think about his future.

Mr Howard, Australia's second-longest serving prime minister, has consistently refused to set a date for his retirement.

The Bulletin reported last week that several of Mr Howard's advisers have been quietly investigating employment opportunities in private enterprise.

But it said Mr Howard had asked them to put any plans on hold while he makes up his mind whether to stay on.

"That particular claim is not right," Mr Howard told Southern Cross broadcasting.

"I haven't had any different discussions with my staff over the last few weeks or months about their futures or my future than I've previously had.

"The question of whether individual members of my staff stay with me is a matter for them.'

Mr Howard said he was happy being prime minister.

"I'm certainly not looking for any job in private enterprise," he said.

"I've got too much on my plate at the present time.

"This is a wonderful job, it's a terrific experience, it's a great challenge and every day's a bit different."

He said he had been lucky to have loyal, dedicated staff for the past nine-and-a-half years as prime minister.

"Like any other person or people, they have a right to think about their futures but nothing in relation to their futures is any different from what it was six months ago, 12 months ago," he said.

Mr Howard refused to say if he had given his staff a guarantee he would still be around in six months' time.

"But can I tell you this -- they still come in every morning full of ideas, full of energy and thinking about the future," he said.

"So I don't get the sense that any of them are sort of slipping into cruise control."

- AAP