More excuses for more failures.

If people are going to do things which have certain consequences that they would rather avoid, they should do whatever they need to avoid the consequences.

What will most certainly happen is that there will be very clear and full communication between the government and independents and minor parties. The precise mechanisms will evolve over time, but we certainly intend to keep the minor parties and the independents very much in the loop. We have to if we want our legislative agenda to have a reasonable chance of success and that's what we intend to do.

The argument [behind climate change] is absolute crap. However, the politics of this are tough for us. Eighty per cent of people believe climate change is a real and present danger.

We've got to get the system right. That's why we've got this root-and-branch reform under way.

Well, Michael, we will be telling the people of Australia in good time before the next election exactly what they can expect from us. No surprises, no excuses. They will be our watch words going into the election and afterwards, should we form a government.

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.