We learn from every natural disaster. Whether it's a fire or a flood, we learn something from it so we can respond to the next one better.

People learn from failure or from lack of success.

Government will not nominate the former Labor prime minister [Kevin Rudd] to be the UN's next secretary-general.

It is unmanly. It is not some expression of macho virtue. It is the absolute antithesis of this. Real men don't bully women and children. Respect for women ... is so important.

We learn from every natural disaster. Whether it's a fire or a flood, we learn something from it so we can respond to the next one better.

I'm sick of the cover-ups, I'm sick of the lies, and so are the bloody veterans, that come out daily of the department's mouth.

What you've got to do is recognize that you don't control everything for a start, you've got to play the cards you're dealt, the hand of cards you're dealt, as best you can, and that's what I always seek to do.