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

Well, I'm not saying that an emissions tax is ever going to be good policy.

I mean there are many, many people in all sorts of different countries who don't have a great life, who are subject to injustice. Are we obliged to take all of them who come here? I think the answer is 'Not necessarily.'

I am in favour of the notion of Australia as an immigrant society

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.

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.

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.