THE HON. KEVIN RUDD
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Mr Rudd, thanks for your time.

It’s very good to be with you, and thank you for the invitation.

Mr Rudd, you’ve announced your industrial relations policy this week. I just want to—

Yes we have, Bryan. Do I think we’re going to solve all of the problems in one go and do I think this is going to be popular with everybody?

No I don’t. But do I think it’s a better, fairer, more equitable solution for all Australians, Bryan? Yes, I most assuredly do.

Good. Mr Rudd—

Do I think Industrial Relations and Workplace Relations are important, are of the utmost importance in this country? Is that my belief? Yes it most emphatically is. Do I therefore assume that I am simply some sort of Robin Hood who can come along and solve all the problems of the world at a stroke, Bryan? I’ll be brutally honest with you. I don’t.

No.

No, that is not my view. But am I going to give it a go, Bryan? Am I going to give it a red hot go? Yes, Bryan, that is my belief. That is my commitment. And that is the policy we will be taking to the Australian people.

Yes, Mr Rudd—

We’ve dropped the ball in this country. We have seriously dropped the ball in this country. We’ve dropped the ball on global warming. We’ve dropped the ball on this absolutely ill-advised and doomed war in Iraq. Do I think it’s going to be easy to get out of these things, Bryan? I don’t.

Probably not, no.

No, I don’t. But do I think the Australian public deserves a better go than they’re going to get from this bereft, idea-less Howard Government?

Probably, yes.

Absolutely right. Yes I do.

So, Mr Rudd—

Let me ask you a question, Bryan. Are we in this country thoroughly sick of being told what the agenda is and told what to think or Bryan do we take the view that we’re not children and we don’t need to be treated like children?

Yes. Yes we do. But this is not what I asked you, Mr Rudd.

Am I interested in what you ask me, Bryan? Do I look as if I’m interested in what you ask me? Do I look as if I’m yearning for further information about what you actually asked me? Bryan if I were, I’d be answering that question.

Mr Rudd.

And am I doing that? No I’m not.

Well, Mr Rudd, this is not the question I’ve asked you. I wanted to ask you about AWAs.

Sure. Are we leaving some of the AWAs in place for a very limited period? Yes we are.

(To someone off screen.) What do I do with this?

But do we like AWAs? Do we think they’re fair? No we most certainly do not. If we don’t think they’re fair, why are we leaving them in place, Bryan, for a limited period?

Well that’s a good question.

That’s a good question. That’s a very good question. I congratulate you on the question. Am I going to answer the question? No I’m not. Is it the right question? No it isn’t.

Mr Rudd…

What is the right question? Bryan, that’s a very good question. That’s an even better question.

I can’t do anything here.

Here’s another question. Am I a conceited twerp? Bryan, that question is beneath you. You’re better than that, Bryan.

Yes.

These are very, very good questions.

He won’t shut up.

Very good questions. Should I shut up now? Perhaps I should. In what direction should I shut?

Up.

Correct. What’s the capital of Norway?

Oslo.

You’re very good, Bryan. Very, very good.

Mr Rudd, thanks for your time.

Oh thank you, Bryan. I loved it. There’s nothing I like more than an exchange of ideas.