- Less cars on the road means productivity and jobs growth, as it allows for the more efficient movement of goods and services and encourages greater urban population density.
- It is in the national interest to have the Flying Kangaroo. It's in the interests of our tourism industry. It's in the interests of jobs here in Australia.
- If we are to celebrate the giants in Australian public life, then Robert Garran must be among them. A lawyer and passionate advocate of Federation, Garran was one of several hands that drafted our constitution.
- The passage of time is likely to make high-speed rail more and more desirable, making it critical that politicians of today think ahead to tomorrow.
- Short-term thinking is the greatest enemy of good government.
- Whether politicians are dealing with complex policy problems or trying to communicate with the electorate, it makes sense to establish a clear, long term narrative underpinned by forward-looking policies to deliver on its vision.
- True conservatives fear anything that is at odds with the status quo, even to the extent of being unable to recognise when the status quo represents injustice. And reactionary conservatives actually want to tear down the gains of the past.
- The very best Labor governments in our nation's history distinguished themselves by thinking big and, wherever possible, resisting the temptation to overemphasise short-term political considerations.
- The sporting fields where Australia's greats began their careers are built and rebuilt with Commonwealth help, as are the halls and community centres where our most of our well-known stars first felt the magic of the stage.
- The fact is Qatar, Etihad, Emirates, Singapore, Garuda, all of the three Chinese airlines, Air New Zealand - the fact is that international aviation relies very much upon agreements between nation-states, and it is not an area in which you have free market operations.
- Politicians who lack the vision to lead the community on big issues like public transport often hide their inaction by blaming other levels of government when anyone complains.
- None of the serious maritime incidents I had to deal with as transport minister off the pristine Queensland or Western Australian coastline involved an Australian flagged and crewed vessel.
- High-speed rail would revolutionise interstate travel and would also be an economic game-changer for dozens of regional communities along its path.
- Australia has an economic interest in ensuring our cities have 21st century urban rail transport to reduce traffic congestion.
- Australian seafarers make an important contribution to national security in a country with thousands of kilometres of uninhabited coastline.
- Labor believes in sustainability. We believe in acting on climate change, not just talking about it.
- Despite the enormous role that local government plays in our daily lives, the constitution makes not one mention of it.
- [Visiting regional Queensland in 2019] We've got to consider what the actual outcome is from any proposal, and the proposal that we immediately stop exporting coal would damage our economy and would not have any environmental benefit.
- I think it's perfectly reasonable that Christine Holgate resign.
- I have the view in life that when someone tells you something you believe them.
- No I don't support a conscience vote - I'm not a fan of conscience votes in general. I'm someone who's often not on the majority side of internal Labor Party debate. But I joined the Party - if I wanted to be an independent then I'd come here and have a crack at being the Independent Member for Grayndler.
- [on Paul Keating] Someone like Keating can put himself up as a possible Labor PM, but he is more comfortable mixing with millionaires and business executives than he is with working-class people.
- The future in many ways can be here right now, be very clear, is solar panels on the roof, charging your vehicle for free overnight. That's what it looks like.
- It isn't sustainable for government to pay people's wages forever.
- [on the Greens] There is a pattern of people who have become candidates for the Greens who haven't come through the environmental movement, or through the green movement, but who have come through revolutionary Marxist parties.
- This is a government that has been in decade for almost an office.
- [on Lidia Thorpe] I hope that Lidia gets some support. I think that that level of behaviour is quite clearly unacceptable. These are not the actions of anyone who should be participating in society in a normal way, let alone a senator. Lidia needs to be very conscious of the way in which this behaviour has been seen. They are repeat exercises now.
- [on the Uluru Statement from the Heart in full] I haven't read it.
- [on Chinese President Xi Jinping] We had an exchange about he spoke about the Tasmanian devils as being cute animals in Australia. I pointed out that whilst I liked Tasmanian devils, they're probably not as cute as pandas. And I relayed the important discussion I think we had at a press conference yesterday, about pandas. Eryk [Bagshaw] will be pleased. And he reminded us of the fact that not all pandas are cute, by relaying the Kung Fu Panda story as well.
- [on the Voice to Parliament Referendum result] Not my loss.
- [on rudeness] Who in Australia, when a hand goes out, dismisses it and doesn't shake?
- [on Stage 3 Tax Cuts] They are legislated. And people deserve certainty. We said it. And I intend to do what I said I would do. I intend to be a Prime Minister who keeps the commitments that we made.
- [on the national unemployment rate] I think it's five point... ah four... sorry, I'm not sure what it is.
- [on appointing Kevin Rudd as ambassador to the United States, if he was elected Prime Minister] Complete nonsense!
- [on protesters from university] Trots who are just looking to instigate and make trouble.
- [2022] No, we won't commit to a timeline of ending live sheep exports and we haven't in our policy.
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