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Former Australian prime ministers have been much in the news. Malcolm Fraser has just published his memoirs, much of which are a fairly savage attack on his Liberal successor, John Howard, for jettisoning his tolerant approach towards boat people, among other misdemeanours. Paul Keating has been the most public face of a controversial new harbourside development in Sydney designed by Sir Richard Rogers, the British "starchitect" who was partly responsible for the Pompidou Centre in Paris. Its Meccano-style, skeletal skyscraper is being heralded as Sydney's "third icon", completing a trifecta that includes the bridge and the opera house. Yet many Sydneysiders think it is a hi-tech eyesore, especially since it encroaches into the harbour.

Then there is John Howard, who is now set to become the head of International Cricket Council, the world governing body. It is tempting to say that he will be become cricket's global supremo, though that job belongs, of course, to the head of the Indian cricket board, the BCCI. Still, it's a high profile role, and will be bestowed upon Mr Howard more for his political proficiency than his skills with bat and ball, which you can take great delight .

Staying with well-known cricket tragics, , the British satirical magazine, used to run a series called "101 uses for a John Major", a hilarious collection of cartoons which was modelled on "101 uses for a dead cat". What, you wonder, are the "101 uses for a former Australian prime minister"?

There's no equivalent here of post-presidential philanthropy, certainly on the scale or ambition of the Carter or Clinton models. But, as we have noted before, Australians have much narrower expectations of their elected leaders, both in office and seemingly beyond.

In his life post-politics, Bob Hawke is known best for his business endeavours, parlaying his contacts book into a lucrative career in international; consultancy. Paul Keating, still only 52 when he left office, has also been successful in the realm of business.

Occasionally, he also brings his brutal broadsides in the public square, on issues ranging from architecture to the resiting of the capital. Mr Keating, a Sydneysider, thinks Canberra should relocate to his home city. John Howard has been busy drafting his memoirs, delivering occasional lectures and watching a lot of cricket. Malcolm Fraser has probably been the most active on the world stage, becoming chair of the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Group along with a couple of UN panels.

The strong rumour in Canberra is that Kevin Rudd hopes one day to become the Secretary General of the United Nations, and views the Australian prime ministership as much as a platform as a pinnacle. His critics would doubtless argue that his skills set better fits the honorary life-presidency of, say, the Institute of Australian Actuaries.

Should former PMs just fade away, and be left to compose their memoirs? Or should they take on more active diplomatic, public and charitable assignments? If so, what are the 101 uses for a former Australian prime minister?

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