I have absolutely no difficulty myself with the playing of God Save the Queen in the presence of Her Majesty.

Sport is an important part of the Australian psyche. Anybody who thinks that sport is not part of the fabric of Australian life misunderstands this country quite dramatically.

There is much in American society which I admire, but I have long held the view that the absence of an effective safety net in that country means that too many needy citizens fall by the wayside. That is not the path that Australia will tread. Nor do we want the burdens of nanny state paternalism that now weigh down many economies in Europe.

The most important civil liberty... is to stay alive and to be free from violence and death.

There is a very special place in the Australian psyche for sport. It is one of the pillars of the Australian way of life. You don't really understand what makes the Australian nation tick unless you understand the great affection Australians have for sport.

Young people are at risk of being disinherited from their community if that community lacks the courage and confidence to teach its history.

We won't just automatically click our heels and follow the Americans.