THE HON. BRENDAN NELSON
LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION

Brendan Nelson, thanks for your time.

Good evening Bryan, it’s very good of you to invite me on the program.

Congratulations on the leadership.

Thank you very much. Thank you very much.

How have you been enjoying it?

I’m loving it, Bryan. It’s a great honour. It’s a big job, no question, and I’m conscious of a great deal of responsibility.

Yes, you’ve had this ambition for a long while, haven’t you?

I think everybody who goes into politics, deep down harbours a secret desire to… (Bryan is distracted.) What’s the problem, Bryan?

Hang on. Sorry, there’s a big shadow over you.

A big shadow over me?

Why is there a big shadow over Dr Nelson?

I can move, Bryan.

No, no. But it goes with you.

It goes with me? What? It came in with me?

Yes, I saw it when you came in.

Well that’s a bit of a shame, Bryan. I thought the interview was going particularly well…

We’ll try and fix it. It’ll be OK.

…On the subject of my leadership.

We’ll fix it.

Good.

It is a strange time for the party isn’t it?

It is a strange time. But we were in government for a very long period of time, Bryan.

(Shadow lifts slightly.)

Oh there we go, that’s better.

There’s a lot of experience in the party, Bryan. So we’ll be back.

And then there was the drubbing, wasn’t there?

What drubbing? I wouldn’t characterise what happened in the election as a drubbing, Bryan.

Come on, Dr Nelson. Please. The Prime Minister lost his seat.

The view of the Australian people was expressed with particular clarity, Bryan, in the Bennelong area but…

And the Treasurer then melted off into the night. Is that a success of some kind?

Look, I’m not saying it’s a good result. I wouldn’t characterise it as a success.

Well how would you characterise the result?

I suppose a drubbing is probably the correct term, Bryan.

I wasn’t trying to be rude. I mean call it a defeat if you would like— that’s fine.

No, no, I take your point, Bryan, we were thrashed. We got thumped. And there are lessons there. And we’ve got to learn those lessons. I’m very conscious of that.

So what do you think your leadership offers the party?

Well, I suppose the obvious thing to say here, Bryan, is generational change. The Prime Minister was in office for a very long… (Shadow has fallen again.)

Oh hang on a minute.

What’s the problem here, Bryan?

Sorry, Dr Nelson. Why is there a dirty big shadow over the top of Dr Nelson? Please! I’m trying to interview the man about leadership.

Bryan, I can’t see a shadow.

Well it’s there.

I don’t think there is a shadow here, Bryan.

You can’t see it, but it’s there.

I don’t think it’s here, Bryan. I’m talking about leadership and there is no shadow that I’m aware of.

It’s there. Trust me.

Generational change was what I was talking about, Bryan.

Yes. OK. Talk about generational change.

The National Party and the Liberal Party have recently undertaken generational change. Although we at the Liberal Party of course, have gone younger.

And what did the National Party do?

In the case of the National Party, Mr Vaile has stood aside for an older man. That’s a slightly different approach.

So what will your leadership seek to do with the party?

We need to rebuild the party. Let’s be very clear about this. We need to rebuild…

(Shadow falls again.)

Oh no, not again. Hang on.

Is that the same problem? I know what this will be, Bryan. Just sit still. I’ll fix this. (Calls off.) Malcolm? Can you bugger off? I mean for heaven’s sake, I’m doing an interview. I’ve told you about this before. I’ll come and talk to you outside afterwards. Please just go away.

Who’s the little guy with the ears?

No idea. Just get outside! I’m talking about leadership. (Off.) Could you please just go away? I’m trying to interview the man about leadership.

That’s right, leadership. It’s very, very important.

Yes.

(The lights go out.)

Whoops!

Oh no. This is ridiculous. Has anyone here got a torch, please?

It’s all right, Bryan, it’s all right. (Lights a cigarette lighter.) I’m very anxious to continue, talk about leadership. Go on. Ask me about leadership. I’m pretty good on this—it’s my special subject.