The thing about social media is that it is anonymous, so it can be much more vitriolic and extreme than normal media and yet it is there for everyone to see. It is kind of like electronic graffiti. The political process is accelerated and intense in a way that I don't believe it ever really has been before.

Why isn’t the fact that 100,000 women choose to end their pregnancies regarded as a national tragedy approaching the scale, say, of Aboriginal life expectancy being 20 years less than that of the general community?

Part of my role, I suppose, is to run government business in the House of Representatives, and try to ensure that people know exactly what's going on in the Chamber is an important part of that.

For small business men and women, less paperwork means higher profits, boosted sales and more time with the family.

I'm a politician. I'm not going to get into a whole range of scientific argument with scientists.

I'm focused on doing the job the treasurer should do.I don't respond to gossip.

We are about getting things done. We are not about the blame game. We are not about making excuses.