Transcript - ABC - 27 May 2011
29 Jun 2011
Transcipt SUBJECTS: The week in parliament
Christopher Pyne: Marius, I would describe that as a storm in a teacup. It is the whip's responsibility to ensure discipline amongst the members of parliament and that means attending divisions and being in the house when the parliament sits. When that is transgressed, they're quite within their rights to point that out to show people that they need to do the right thing. Everyone makes mistakes; that's understood, but missing divisions in parliament is a very serious issue and this whole matter has been blown entirely out of proportion by I think some people who would like to play Labor back into the game because they've had such a terrible year. But the truth is it is a very minor issue.
Marius Benson: There are reports that Warren Entsch's letter criticising Malcolm Turnbull and the other four was shown to other leading figures in the Liberal Party. Did you see the letter before it was sent out?
Pyne: Marius, the real issue this week is the Government's continuing disasters over the carbon tax, the unravelling Malaysian boat-swap scheme....
Benson: Sure, can I ask you though about the email from the Chief Whip? Did he show it to you before it was sent out, did you see it before it was sent out?
Pyne: Marius, I'm not answering anymore questions about an email from a chief whip about internal party discipline. I fully understand that you'd like me to, but the truth is it's not an issue worth commenting on when there are so many serious issues facing the country, as I've outlined and the Treasurers ongoing substandard performance as the treasurer has been another issue this week. And what he did and didn't know about the Western Australian forum......
Benson: Let's just press it a little though because it is an issue that is across all the main front pages today and it's reported that some members of the Liberal Leadership knew about the letter before it was sent out to Malcolm Turnbull and others. Can I just resolve that issue? Did you know about it before it was sent out?
Pyne: Marius, the issue is resolved. It was a whips decision....
Benson: Can you answer that single question? Is that possible?
Pyne: No, I'm not going to answer your question because I'm not going to these (inaudible) of splitting hairs and semantic discussions.
Benson: The question of who leaked the email has been raised and Turnbull supporters have been quoted as saying it has been leaked to damage him. Do you think that was the purpose?
Pyne: Marius, I think what the public want to know about is what a government is doing about the truthfulness in terms of the Western Australian royalties decision and...
Benson: Those issues have been much canvassed. The main issue this morning is this email. That's the thing that's taking up the front pages. What do you think of Malcolm Turnbull?
Pyne: I have a very high regard for Malcolm Turnbull. I think he adds real value to the Coalition attack against a very weak and bad government and I know that he'll serve with great distinction in an Abbott government as the Minister for Communications. I look forward to working along side him.
Benson: Is he a team player?
Pyne: Absolutely he is a team player.
Benson: He says he has the leader's baton still in his backpack. Do you think he could return as leader?
Pyne: No he didn't say that. He said that everyone that goes into Parliament has ambition and ambition is a healthy thing.
Benson: He says everyone's got a leader's baton in their backpack. He didn't exclude himself.
Pyne: Well why would he. He is right to be ambitious. But we have a leader, he is doing a very good job, we are a long way ahead in the polls, the Prime Minister is a very bad Prime Minister leading a very weak government and Tony Abbott will lead us to the next election and I believe the public will endorse the Coalition to be the next government because they want a government that actually can govern rather than be in this terrible situation that Labor is with in alliance with the greens and conservative independents. And hopefully we'll be able to save this country from three very bad years.
Benson: Christopher Pyne, thanks very much.
Pyne: It's a great pleasure.
ENDS