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.

Do we really want to invest $50 billion of hard earned taxpayers money in what is essentially a video entertainment system?

And a government that accepts that it will be judged more by its deeds than by its mere words.

I think there is no doubt that the advent of 24/7 news channels, which are voracious in their demand for constant new content, has accelerated the political process. The rise of social media, in addition to talkback, I think has intensified the political process.

We are a very like-minded group, the senior members of this government. The outliers are not very far away from the mainstream.

We are looking at what more we can do. As well as a strong security response we need a strong humanitarian one.

I think that marriage is, dare I say it, between a man and a woman, hopefully for life and there are all sorts of other relationships which should be acknowledged and recognised, but I don't know that they can be recognised as marriage.