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.

I have close family members as well as lots of close friends who are gay. Many of them strongly support gay marriage.

Look, good government doesn't look for excuses, good government gets on with the job.

If we boost productivity, we can improve economic growth.

Political parties don't work when people just announce what they are doing and expect everyone else to follow.

I was a very senior minister in the Howard government and I sat around this particular table [in the prime ministerial office] in many discussions. The difference between being a senior minister and the prime minister is that ultimately the buck does stop with the prime minister and in the end the prime minister has to make those critical judgement calls and that's the big difference.

The Liberal Party has dealt with the spill motion and now this matter is behind us, we think that when you elect a government, when you elect a prime minister, you deserve to keep that government and that prime minister until you have a chance to change your mind.