Mr Howard's problem is for so long he's been a climate change sceptic, how can he, therefore, put himself to the country as part of a climate change solution for the future.

We want a national emissions trading scheme, the Government does not and has rejected one for years. We want to boost the mandatory renewable energies target, the Government has failed to do that. We want a national demand side management strategy for the country to reduce electricity consumption and the Government, up until now, has done very little on that score.

We are moving toward recognition of the first Australians in the Australian constitution.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future. We apologise for the laws and policies of successive parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

It is a high honour to be elected Prime Minister of Australia.

Australians are a passionate lot. We are also a very practical lot.

John Howard's credibility on the entire Iraq war has been torpedoed by John Howard's own intelligence agency.