Capricornia is one of the most marginal seats in the country. So naturally the electoral battle is fought in the marginal seats.

Historically, it's very unusual after a change of government for the new government not to be returned.

It is a necessary precondition for the success of a referendum that there should be broad community consensus and bipartisan support for it.

Malcolm Fraser, in the marrow of his bones, despised racism. He despised people who discriminated against other people because they were different and in particular because of the colour of their skin, and I don't think there has been a time in Australian politics where there has been more attention to the importance of that value.

We have a great literary tradition in Australia. I think the book is very much alive and the more people who are encouraged to read books the better our society will be and the wiser our society will be.

I decided few years ago to leave the bar to pursue a career in politics because I wanted to make a contribution in Parliament.

I think it would be frankly a retrograde thing for Pauline Hanson to be elected to the Senate.