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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2015/oct/19/poll-bounce-for-malcolm-turnbull-and-the-coalition-politics-live
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| The day in politics: question time and Senate estimates – as it happened | The day in politics: question time and Senate estimates – as it happened |
| (25 days later) | |
| 8.39am BST | 8.39am BST |
| 08:39 | 08:39 |
| Good night and best of British | Good night and best of British |
| Estimates is just getting into stride now after a day of limbering but I think we’ll fold the Politics Live tent for this evening. Today has been all the things a day in national politics always is: live, real, special, noisy. | Estimates is just getting into stride now after a day of limbering but I think we’ll fold the Politics Live tent for this evening. Today has been all the things a day in national politics always is: live, real, special, noisy. |
| Let’s summarise, in no particular order. | Let’s summarise, in no particular order. |
| Malcolm Turnbull woke up to a nice poll; the immigration minister Peter Dutton blasted refugee advocates for providing conflicting accounts about the treatment of an asylum seeker allegedly raped and impregnated on Nauru; the Australian Border Force said sorry for the outbreak of pure Numptyville that was Operation Fortitude; a separate estimates hearing confirmed that a person or persons unknown allegedly annihilated a marble table in the cabinet suite after a lively farewell party for Tony Abbott – but fortunately the former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop had not made off with some of the royal crockery from her old suite; former government senate leader Eric Abetz throught journalists sneered at conservatives and Christians while Christopher Pyne thought they didn’t provided people kept excessive displays of religiosity to themselves; the foreign minister Julie Bishop pretended the government had always loved the Human Rights Commission; Labor wondered what if any policies had changed courtesy of Malcolm Turnbull’s ascension to the leadership of the Liberal party; Turnbull thought he’d get back to Labor on that point; Scott Morrison thought the answer to every question in question time was Labor is deeply stupid; officials from the department of prime minister and cabinet thought that the specific prime ministerial beverage preferences of Tony Abbott were a private matter even though they were funded by the taxpayer; Labor senator Penny Wong thought she’d never seen anything quite as disgraceful as that particular obfuscation. | Malcolm Turnbull woke up to a nice poll; the immigration minister Peter Dutton blasted refugee advocates for providing conflicting accounts about the treatment of an asylum seeker allegedly raped and impregnated on Nauru; the Australian Border Force said sorry for the outbreak of pure Numptyville that was Operation Fortitude; a separate estimates hearing confirmed that a person or persons unknown allegedly annihilated a marble table in the cabinet suite after a lively farewell party for Tony Abbott – but fortunately the former Speaker Bronwyn Bishop had not made off with some of the royal crockery from her old suite; former government senate leader Eric Abetz throught journalists sneered at conservatives and Christians while Christopher Pyne thought they didn’t provided people kept excessive displays of religiosity to themselves; the foreign minister Julie Bishop pretended the government had always loved the Human Rights Commission; Labor wondered what if any policies had changed courtesy of Malcolm Turnbull’s ascension to the leadership of the Liberal party; Turnbull thought he’d get back to Labor on that point; Scott Morrison thought the answer to every question in question time was Labor is deeply stupid; officials from the department of prime minister and cabinet thought that the specific prime ministerial beverage preferences of Tony Abbott were a private matter even though they were funded by the taxpayer; Labor senator Penny Wong thought she’d never seen anything quite as disgraceful as that particular obfuscation. |
| Phew, eh? | Phew, eh? |
| We’ll be back at the same time tomorrow. First up, the government’s response to the review of the financial system. Have a great evening. Rest up. See you tomorrow. | We’ll be back at the same time tomorrow. First up, the government’s response to the review of the financial system. Have a great evening. Rest up. See you tomorrow. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.43am BST | at 8.43am BST |
| 8.04am BST | 8.04am BST |
| 08:04 | 08:04 |
| The PM&C officials (with ears ringing) have now been excused. In the chair currently is the new National Security Legislation Monitor, Roger Gyles. He’s just told the committee he’s signed off today on a new report to the prime minister on section 35P of the Asio act – this is the section that criminalises publication of information about special intelligence operations. This is the section that media organisations want repealed on the basis that criminalising publication is a draconian curb on speech. We’ll all be very interested to see that report, and this timeline means it should be in the public domain by the end of the year. | The PM&C officials (with ears ringing) have now been excused. In the chair currently is the new National Security Legislation Monitor, Roger Gyles. He’s just told the committee he’s signed off today on a new report to the prime minister on section 35P of the Asio act – this is the section that criminalises publication of information about special intelligence operations. This is the section that media organisations want repealed on the basis that criminalising publication is a draconian curb on speech. We’ll all be very interested to see that report, and this timeline means it should be in the public domain by the end of the year. |
| 7.58am BST | 7.58am BST |
| 07:58 | 07:58 |
| Wong is completely furious at this performance from officials from the department of prime minister and cabinet. It’s quite clear the officials want to give as little information as possible as to how this particular decision was arrived at. | Wong is completely furious at this performance from officials from the department of prime minister and cabinet. It’s quite clear the officials want to give as little information as possible as to how this particular decision was arrived at. |
| The LDP senator David Leyonhjelm is not amused either. | The LDP senator David Leyonhjelm is not amused either. |
| You can’t avoid the conclusion there is something to hide. | You can’t avoid the conclusion there is something to hide. |
| 7.49am BST | 7.49am BST |
| 07:49 | 07:49 |
| Quite an amusing tussle going on in the finance committee at the moment concerning an FOI request made by the Labor senator Penny Wong concerning the former prime minister Tony Abbott’s beverage preferences. | Quite an amusing tussle going on in the finance committee at the moment concerning an FOI request made by the Labor senator Penny Wong concerning the former prime minister Tony Abbott’s beverage preferences. |
| It looks like the FOI request has been knocked back substantially on the basis that Abbott’s beverage preferences was personal information. The beverages were of course procured courtesy of the taxpayer. Wong is shouting about this being an episode of Utopia. | It looks like the FOI request has been knocked back substantially on the basis that Abbott’s beverage preferences was personal information. The beverages were of course procured courtesy of the taxpayer. Wong is shouting about this being an episode of Utopia. |
| 7.16am BST | 7.16am BST |
| 07:16 | 07:16 |
| Meanwhile, in the other committee. | Meanwhile, in the other committee. |
| Malcolm Turnbull asked secretary of PM&C for conflict of interest advice on his investments the day after he became PM #estimates | Malcolm Turnbull asked secretary of PM&C for conflict of interest advice on his investments the day after he became PM #estimates |
| 7.08am BST | 7.08am BST |
| 07:08 | 07:08 |
| The talking points have landed | The talking points have landed |
| Finance is still on conflicts of interest and ministerial guidelines but I need to tune back in to immigration estimates. Earlier today I flagged the imminent release of the talking points associated with the botched Operation (Reverse Ferret) Fortitude. Folks with me all day will recall I mentioned the talking points had been sought under a freedom of information request. | Finance is still on conflicts of interest and ministerial guidelines but I need to tune back in to immigration estimates. Earlier today I flagged the imminent release of the talking points associated with the botched Operation (Reverse Ferret) Fortitude. Folks with me all day will recall I mentioned the talking points had been sought under a freedom of information request. |
| Sadly, the talking points don’t help reduce confusion about this operation, and they contradict evidence given to the estimates hearing earlier today. | Sadly, the talking points don’t help reduce confusion about this operation, and they contradict evidence given to the estimates hearing earlier today. |
| Officials earlier today told the committee there was nothing unusual about the operation proposed for Melbourne despite the hyperbole in the press release, which kicked off the protest in Melbourne. | Officials earlier today told the committee there was nothing unusual about the operation proposed for Melbourne despite the hyperbole in the press release, which kicked off the protest in Melbourne. |
| But the talking points say: “This is the first time ABF officers have been involved in an operation of this nature.” Just in case we missed it: “The ABF regularly participates in inter-agency activity. This is the first time we’ve been involved in an inter-agency operation of this size and nature.” | But the talking points say: “This is the first time ABF officers have been involved in an operation of this nature.” Just in case we missed it: “The ABF regularly participates in inter-agency activity. This is the first time we’ve been involved in an inter-agency operation of this size and nature.” |
| Officials also told the committee earlier today there was never any intention to stop people and demand they produce identity papers. But the talking points say: “ABF officers will be positioned at various locations within the Melbourne CBD speaking to individuals who we suspect may be in Australia illegally without a current and valid visa. We will be speaking with a range of individuals we come across as part of this operation.” | Officials also told the committee earlier today there was never any intention to stop people and demand they produce identity papers. But the talking points say: “ABF officers will be positioned at various locations within the Melbourne CBD speaking to individuals who we suspect may be in Australia illegally without a current and valid visa. We will be speaking with a range of individuals we come across as part of this operation.” |
| Only one word for this whole sortie: bizarro. | Only one word for this whole sortie: bizarro. |
| 6.47am BST | 6.47am BST |
| 06:47 | 06:47 |
| Just while the finance committee has plunged into the weeds we can post our #BrickParliament re-enactment of the table annihilation. | Just while the finance committee has plunged into the weeds we can post our #BrickParliament re-enactment of the table annihilation. |
| These #BrickParliament characters shaking it in the #BrickCabinetSuite may be recognisable to regular readers, but of course we make no specific allegations. We remain unaware of the true culprits. We also remain confused how it is actually possible to break a marble table. | These #BrickParliament characters shaking it in the #BrickCabinetSuite may be recognisable to regular readers, but of course we make no specific allegations. We remain unaware of the true culprits. We also remain confused how it is actually possible to break a marble table. |
| Just for the record, here was the email correspondence tabled in the estimates inquisition earlier on today reflecting efforts by the Department of Parliamentary Services to work out how and when a bespoke stone table had been totalled in the cabinet suite. | Just for the record, here was the email correspondence tabled in the estimates inquisition earlier on today reflecting efforts by the Department of Parliamentary Services to work out how and when a bespoke stone table had been totalled in the cabinet suite. |
| Hi | Hi |
| As discussed, following on from the function on Monday night, we understand that a small round marble table is missing. The cleaners went into the area on Tuesday morning and undertook a major clean-up of the area. No additional costs were incurred as a result of this clean-up. It is understood that the table may have been damaged by a person standing or dancing upon it. Anecdotally we have been advised that pieces of the table top were present on the floor Tuesday morning and more pieces have since been seen in ministerial offices. As the table in question forms part of the status A and B furniture collection it is essential that this item is accounted for, and properly written off if it has been damaged beyond repair. Staff from my branch have not been granted access to this area to determine the validity of the reports of damage to the table. I will advise you if we hear any further information. | As discussed, following on from the function on Monday night, we understand that a small round marble table is missing. The cleaners went into the area on Tuesday morning and undertook a major clean-up of the area. No additional costs were incurred as a result of this clean-up. It is understood that the table may have been damaged by a person standing or dancing upon it. Anecdotally we have been advised that pieces of the table top were present on the floor Tuesday morning and more pieces have since been seen in ministerial offices. As the table in question forms part of the status A and B furniture collection it is essential that this item is accounted for, and properly written off if it has been damaged beyond repair. Staff from my branch have not been granted access to this area to determine the validity of the reports of damage to the table. I will advise you if we hear any further information. |
| John Ryan Assistant Secretary Asset Development and Maintenance Branch Department of Parliamentary Services | John Ryan Assistant Secretary Asset Development and Maintenance Branch Department of Parliamentary Services |
| There is so much to love about this email. | There is so much to love about this email. |
| 6.27am BST | 6.27am BST |
| 06:27 | 06:27 |
| I’ve had a quick stocktake of estimates, and I think I’ll tune in to the finance committee for a bit. Right now, the Labor senator Jacinta Collins is asking about the prime minister’s pecuniary interests. | I’ve had a quick stocktake of estimates, and I think I’ll tune in to the finance committee for a bit. Right now, the Labor senator Jacinta Collins is asking about the prime minister’s pecuniary interests. |
| In the chair, the attorney-general George Brandis. | In the chair, the attorney-general George Brandis. |
| I can tell you senator all the prime minister’s disclosure obligations have been complied with. | I can tell you senator all the prime minister’s disclosure obligations have been complied with. |
| Collins says she’s interested in pursuing any potential conflicts of interest – not the prime minister’s tax affairs (which were the subject of debate in parliament last week.) | Collins says she’s interested in pursuing any potential conflicts of interest – not the prime minister’s tax affairs (which were the subject of debate in parliament last week.) |
| 6.09am BST | 6.09am BST |
| 06:09 | 06:09 |
| I did promise pictures. This man always sends such tantalising pictures. Makes me want to do a little sequence. | I did promise pictures. This man always sends such tantalising pictures. Makes me want to do a little sequence. |
| The view from the backbench. Once was prime minister. Once was treasurer. | The view from the backbench. Once was prime minister. Once was treasurer. |
| 5.53am BST | 5.53am BST |
| 05:53 | 05:53 |
| Clap hands everyone, here comes the afternoon. | Clap hands everyone, here comes the afternoon. |
| The treaties committee has just now tabled a report on the agreement I refuse to call CHAFTA on the basis that the acronym is entirely hideous. This would be the China free trade deal. The majority of the treaties committee likes it, which is an utterly unsurprising development. The news we are all waiting for is whether the government and Labor can come to peace love and harmony on the outstanding points of concern about the deal. We are still waiting, but I suspect we won’t be waiting for too much longer. | The treaties committee has just now tabled a report on the agreement I refuse to call CHAFTA on the basis that the acronym is entirely hideous. This would be the China free trade deal. The majority of the treaties committee likes it, which is an utterly unsurprising development. The news we are all waiting for is whether the government and Labor can come to peace love and harmony on the outstanding points of concern about the deal. We are still waiting, but I suspect we won’t be waiting for too much longer. |
| Looking back before we stride forward. Just before question time, the innovation minister Christopher Pyne was interviewed on Sky News. Delightfully, Pyne was asked what he thought of the former government senate leader, Eric Abetz, declaring in The Australian this morning that the parliamentary press gallery hates Christians and conservative folks. I posted a link to this chucklesome exit interview earlier today. | Looking back before we stride forward. Just before question time, the innovation minister Christopher Pyne was interviewed on Sky News. Delightfully, Pyne was asked what he thought of the former government senate leader, Eric Abetz, declaring in The Australian this morning that the parliamentary press gallery hates Christians and conservative folks. I posted a link to this chucklesome exit interview earlier today. |
| Pyne noted that he was and remains a Catholic, and journalists seem not to despise him. | Pyne noted that he was and remains a Catholic, and journalists seem not to despise him. |
| Q: Let’s move to Eric Abetz, if we can. I am sure you would have diligently read his comments to Sharri Markson for The Australian,an interview that she conducted with him. Firstly, do you agree with the sentiment that he’s expressed in terms of the way that religious folk – you’re one yourself – are treated by the Canberra press gallery? | Q: Let’s move to Eric Abetz, if we can. I am sure you would have diligently read his comments to Sharri Markson for The Australian,an interview that she conducted with him. Firstly, do you agree with the sentiment that he’s expressed in terms of the way that religious folk – you’re one yourself – are treated by the Canberra press gallery? |
| Christopher Pyne: | Christopher Pyne: |
| Look, I’m not going to agree or disagree with Eric’s personal views about how Christianity or other religions are covered in the press gallery here in Canberra. We are a secular, pluralistic nation, with many religions represented, but by far and away, the dominant religion is Christianity, it still represents about over 70% of the census in terms of how people determine themselves. I’m a Catholic, and I’ve never hidden that, I must admit I have never had a bad story out of the press gallery because of being a Catholic or a Christian, and I think we have to make sure we keep religion as separate from politics as possible, while always using everything we’ve been taught and learnt over a lifetime to inform our views and improve our knowledge of the kinds of decisions we make in public policy. So I’ve never resiled from being a Catholic and how that has formed and shaped my life and my views, but I’ve never been criticised by the press gallery for that. | Look, I’m not going to agree or disagree with Eric’s personal views about how Christianity or other religions are covered in the press gallery here in Canberra. We are a secular, pluralistic nation, with many religions represented, but by far and away, the dominant religion is Christianity, it still represents about over 70% of the census in terms of how people determine themselves. I’m a Catholic, and I’ve never hidden that, I must admit I have never had a bad story out of the press gallery because of being a Catholic or a Christian, and I think we have to make sure we keep religion as separate from politics as possible, while always using everything we’ve been taught and learnt over a lifetime to inform our views and improve our knowledge of the kinds of decisions we make in public policy. So I’ve never resiled from being a Catholic and how that has formed and shaped my life and my views, but I’ve never been criticised by the press gallery for that. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.54am BST | at 5.54am BST |
| 5.19am BST | 5.19am BST |
| 05:19 | 05:19 |
| Further questions have been placed on the notice paper. I’ll share some more chamber pictures shortly and then we’ll need to swing back into estimates and the honey joys of the political afternoon. | Further questions have been placed on the notice paper. I’ll share some more chamber pictures shortly and then we’ll need to swing back into estimates and the honey joys of the political afternoon. |
| 5.16am BST | 5.16am BST |
| 05:16 | 05:16 |
| There’s been a fight about whether a question from Labor’s Anthony Albanese on the Melbourne metro was directed to the correct minister. He wanted to ask a question to Jamie Briggs. Christopher Pyne says the question needs to go to the senior minister. | There’s been a fight about whether a question from Labor’s Anthony Albanese on the Melbourne metro was directed to the correct minister. He wanted to ask a question to Jamie Briggs. Christopher Pyne says the question needs to go to the senior minister. |
| Manager of opposition business, Tony Burke, is being a little bit sly. | Manager of opposition business, Tony Burke, is being a little bit sly. |
| I can understand why they don’t want the minister for the cities to come near the table. I can understand why they won’t. It was a reasonable question. | I can understand why they don’t want the minister for the cities to come near the table. I can understand why they won’t. It was a reasonable question. |
| (If you don’t speak Canberra, and therefore can’t fathom this reference, it is alleged that Briggs was dancing on a table at Tony Abbott’s farewell party, the same alleged party that allegedly annihilated a marble-topped table. Now you geddit, don’t you?) | (If you don’t speak Canberra, and therefore can’t fathom this reference, it is alleged that Briggs was dancing on a table at Tony Abbott’s farewell party, the same alleged party that allegedly annihilated a marble-topped table. Now you geddit, don’t you?) |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.38am BST | at 5.38am BST |
| 5.10am BST | 5.10am BST |
| 05:10 | 05:10 |
| Hello. | Hello. |
| Good bye. | Good bye. |
| 5.06am BST | 5.06am BST |
| 05:06 | 05:06 |
| Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen wants to know if growth for this financial year was revised up or down in government forecasts. | Shadow treasurer Chris Bowen wants to know if growth for this financial year was revised up or down in government forecasts. |
| Scott Morrison wanders non-specifically around the point. | Scott Morrison wanders non-specifically around the point. |
| Bowen throws the gratuitous the point of order. | Bowen throws the gratuitous the point of order. |
| The answer is down, if the treasurer doesn’t know that he should just acknowledge it. | The answer is down, if the treasurer doesn’t know that he should just acknowledge it. |
| Bye bye Chris. He’s been shown the door under 94A. | Bye bye Chris. He’s been shown the door under 94A. |
| 5.02am BST | 5.02am BST |
| 05:02 | 05:02 |
| Shadow climate minister Mark Butler tries to get a question to Turnbull, which the prime minister waves off to the environment minister Greg Hunt. | Shadow climate minister Mark Butler tries to get a question to Turnbull, which the prime minister waves off to the environment minister Greg Hunt. |
| Q: Is the prime minister aware that not one company will be forced to reduce its carbon emissions under the government’s new Direct Action regulations, according to a new report from Reputex? | Q: Is the prime minister aware that not one company will be forced to reduce its carbon emissions under the government’s new Direct Action regulations, according to a new report from Reputex? |
| Hunt has a large crack at the accuracy of Reputex. | Hunt has a large crack at the accuracy of Reputex. |
| He then proceeds to ignore the substance of the question. Hunt repeats the projections that were made public at the time the government announced its post 2020 climate targets for the UN Paris conference. The capacity of the Direct Action policy to deliver on these projections has been questioned by a number of credible groups, not just Reputex (which incidentally has a very high reputation for analysis in this space.) | He then proceeds to ignore the substance of the question. Hunt repeats the projections that were made public at the time the government announced its post 2020 climate targets for the UN Paris conference. The capacity of the Direct Action policy to deliver on these projections has been questioned by a number of credible groups, not just Reputex (which incidentally has a very high reputation for analysis in this space.) |
| Hunt ends thus: | Hunt ends thus: |
| So we took a carbon tax which was failing to reduce emissions in any significant way and which was driving up our electricity prices and we offered Australia two things – lower electricity prices and lower emissions. | So we took a carbon tax which was failing to reduce emissions in any significant way and which was driving up our electricity prices and we offered Australia two things – lower electricity prices and lower emissions. |
| (Don’t know that that would clear the fact checkers either, minister.) | (Don’t know that that would clear the fact checkers either, minister.) |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 5.24am BST | at 5.24am BST |
| 4.53am BST | 4.53am BST |
| 04:53 | 04:53 |
| Bill Shorten is back at the dispatch box inquiring what precisely Malcolm Turnbull has changed since becoming the Liberal party leader, given he’s just said the policies remain on foot unless they are derailed by the Senate. | Bill Shorten is back at the dispatch box inquiring what precisely Malcolm Turnbull has changed since becoming the Liberal party leader, given he’s just said the policies remain on foot unless they are derailed by the Senate. |
| Turnbull says rail funding, public transport funding and innovation. | Turnbull says rail funding, public transport funding and innovation. |
| In terms of my own leadership as prime minister, a very obvious example is that the federal government is more than ready to finance urban infrastructure, road and rail, and does not discriminate between the two. As you can see, that is a very significant shift. It’s been very much welcomed across Australia and we are looking at urban infrastructure without discriminating as to whether it is road or rail. I gather members opposite have welcomed that too. Another factor that again has received greater emphasis since the change of prime ministership is clearly that of innovation and that is a very key priority for us and that’s a very significant one. | In terms of my own leadership as prime minister, a very obvious example is that the federal government is more than ready to finance urban infrastructure, road and rail, and does not discriminate between the two. As you can see, that is a very significant shift. It’s been very much welcomed across Australia and we are looking at urban infrastructure without discriminating as to whether it is road or rail. I gather members opposite have welcomed that too. Another factor that again has received greater emphasis since the change of prime ministership is clearly that of innovation and that is a very key priority for us and that’s a very significant one. |
| 4.49am BST | 4.49am BST |
| 04:49 | 04:49 |
| Q: Can the prime minister confirm that it is still the Abbott-Turnbull government’s policy to increase the cost of medicine by up to 60% for pensioners this year? | Q: Can the prime minister confirm that it is still the Abbott-Turnbull government’s policy to increase the cost of medicine by up to 60% for pensioners this year? |
| Malcolm Turnbull: | Malcolm Turnbull: |
| Can I simply say that the government’s policies are unchanged. Our policies will change often in the face of an inability to get them through the Senate and we will have to renegotiate and you will see examples of that, and policies are reviewed and reconsidered. | Can I simply say that the government’s policies are unchanged. Our policies will change often in the face of an inability to get them through the Senate and we will have to renegotiate and you will see examples of that, and policies are reviewed and reconsidered. |
| But all of our existing policies and proposals, whether they are before this House or in policy statements by ministers, remain on foot. | But all of our existing policies and proposals, whether they are before this House or in policy statements by ministers, remain on foot. |
| I want to make this very clear, I want to make this very clear to the honourable member, and she has some shared responsibility for this, the budgetary situation that we were left with required the government to make some tough decisions. | I want to make this very clear, I want to make this very clear to the honourable member, and she has some shared responsibility for this, the budgetary situation that we were left with required the government to make some tough decisions. |
| It required some tough decisions to be taken and they have been taken. Not all of them have been able to secure support in the Senate, not all of them have been popular. But bringing this budget, our budget, our nation’s federal budget back into balance over the cycle is going to be a very difficult challenge, a long-term challenge, we understand that. | It required some tough decisions to be taken and they have been taken. Not all of them have been able to secure support in the Senate, not all of them have been popular. But bringing this budget, our budget, our nation’s federal budget back into balance over the cycle is going to be a very difficult challenge, a long-term challenge, we understand that. |
| But honourable members opposite have got to bear in mind their share of the responsibility for this. The honourable member was sitting in this chamber when Kevin Rudd was PM and we begged him not to spend so much during the global financial crisis. | But honourable members opposite have got to bear in mind their share of the responsibility for this. The honourable member was sitting in this chamber when Kevin Rudd was PM and we begged him not to spend so much during the global financial crisis. |
| We begged him not to. | We begged him not to. |
| He went ahead and spent. He spent so much, so wasteful, he drove our budget into deficit and did so for no benefit for the Australian people or our economy. And that is the mess which we are cleaning up. | He went ahead and spent. He spent so much, so wasteful, he drove our budget into deficit and did so for no benefit for the Australian people or our economy. And that is the mess which we are cleaning up. |
| (No benefit? I suspect that wouldn’t clear the fact checkers, PM.) | (No benefit? I suspect that wouldn’t clear the fact checkers, PM.) |
| 4.41am BST | 4.41am BST |
| 04:41 | 04:41 |
| Now the deputy prime minister, Warren Truss, is back to the second Sydney airport. Warren would like to know everyone’s thoughts on this project. Bring me your thoughts. He thinks it’s tremendous. | Now the deputy prime minister, Warren Truss, is back to the second Sydney airport. Warren would like to know everyone’s thoughts on this project. Bring me your thoughts. He thinks it’s tremendous. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 4.53am BST | at 4.53am BST |