TREASURER:
Hello again.
REPORTER:
Treasurer, what ran through your mind when you saw Dennis Jensen speaking last night?
TREASURER:
Thank god we are getting on with the job of governing. That is exactly what ran through my mind. We are getting on with the job of governing. The shackles are off the Australian economy. Now is the time to invest and create jobs; lower taxes, lower interest rates, free trade agreements that open the doors to a whole new market in Asia. We are getting on with the job of governing the nation, as the Australian people want us to.
REPORTER:
So your message to Dennis Jensen is?
TREASURER:
We are all part of a team, we are all part of a team. We were elected by the Australian people to govern in the national interest and we are getting on with the job of governing in the national interest.
REPORTER:
[Inaudible] at least three MPs have come out publicly now calling for some sort of change or resolution. What do you think of the motivations behind [inaudible]?
TREASURER:
I will leave that to commentators. You know there are 102 people in the Party Room and about 43 in the Ministry. I have no doubt that everyone is supporting the Prime Minister. The Cabinet is unanimous in its support for the Prime Minister. I can understand that various Members of Parliament have grievances and on behalf of their constituents, they should air them but we have an obligation to be united and to provide stable government. We witnessed the Rudd-Gillard-Rudd years; Australians do not want to have six governments in eight years.
REPORTER:
When voters hear what they are saying though in the media [inaudible] what should they think about [inaudible?]
TREASURER:
I will leave that to commentators.
REPORTER:
Self-evidently Treasurer, the Prime Minister doesn’t have 100 per cent support…
TREASURER:
I don’t think any Prime Minister has had 100 per cent support. When John Howard sacked his seventh Minister half way through his term and a number of Members of Parliament went to the crossbench, which you might remember, it was a very difficult time and I am absolutely sure at that time John Howard did not have 100 per cent support. So, let’s have a little bit of historical perspective. Now, polls – they will say, well, polls are different today and things move quicker today, that is true they do but the test is [inaudible] and that is what we are focused on.
REPORTER:
[Inaudible] being left with the choice of supporting your Prime Minister or ignoring your backbench.
TREASURER:
No because in fact, there are three, four out of 102 Members of Parliament in the Liberal Party.
REPORTER:
Dozens…
TREASURER:
[Inaudible] If there is dozens, come out dozens. But, you know, otherwise our job is to focus on what is best for Australia. Okay, last one.
REPORTER:
[Inaudible] majority of MPs support Tony Abbott, like you say, would it not be best then to hold a ballot next Party Room meeting next week to resolve this issue?
TREASURER:
No our job is to get on with governing the country; lower interest rates, lower taxes, fixing the Budget, creating an environment where the business [inaudible].