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

There's a sense in which politicians can never work hard enough.

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.

I think all senior politicians tend to be rather more subtle then the commentators would have it. It is a natural tendency for human beings to try to classify. We all have this classification urge - so and so is such and such, that person is in that camp - but look, most sophisticated people defy stereotype.

I'm not running for canonisation.

It is fit that justice should be administered with great caution.

A government that understands the limits of power as well as its potential.