The protection of human rights to promote the dignity of the individual is too important a matter for symbolic gestures alone. It is only through the pursuit of practical and effective efforts to promote human rights that we show our real commitment to the welfare of individuals and society.

My father had the same name as me but he was known as Alec. He was a member of the House of Representatives.

Yes, I don't think I shall ever become Prime Minister. Hard as that is to swallow, I tell you one person who is very happy always to see me say that, and that's my wife.

If people are concerned about my house and where I live again it's much more of a reflection on them than it is on me.

I hate to spoil my own prospects, but I really don't respect the kiss-and-tell approach to public life at all, not at all.

I think prime ministers, I actually think Cabinet ministers should be subject to intense scrutiny, I think that's in the public interest, even if some of the allegations made aren't right and so on, and they have to correct the record, it doesn't matter.

Yeah, well I'm not aspiring to be the Prime Minister.