The measure in the budget in relation to parental leave pay is based on a simple proposition. Most women across Australia have access to one scheme funded by the taxpayer. Some women have access to two schemes and that's great.

I think anything which improves services is in principle a good thing.

I do enjoy exercise, not because I am an exercise junkie but because it's terrific stress release.

In the era of mobile phones and emails, you're no more out of the loop in China than you are in Sydney.

It is very important for our long-term economic future that the relationship with Japan, Korea and China, who are our three biggest trading partners, be ever stronger.

I want to see an end to sovereign risk questions over Australia.

Most of the people who are coming to Australia by boat have passed through several countries on the way, and if they simply wanted asylum they could have claimed that in any of the countries through which they'd passed.