We are naturally reluctant as a peace-loving people to reach out to far-away conflicts but, as we know, this conflict has been reaching out to us for months now.

There is one fundamental message that we want to go out from this place to every nook and cranny of our country: There should be no new tax collection without an election.

I feel a little uncomfortable at being asked the sorts of questions that other Catholics in public life tend not to be asked.

I'm not really managing the work-life balance, I'm just accepting that the work increases and the ordinary life has to decrease when you're the prime minister.

I can't promise that I won't continue to embarrass people.

I think that people should come to Australia through the front door, not through the back door. If people want a migration outcome, they should go through the migration channels.

There is much to be said for an emissions trading scheme. It was, after all, the mechanism for emission reduction ultimately chosen by the Howard government.