THE HON. JOHN HOWARD
PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA

Mr Howard, thanks for your time.

It’s very good to be with you. Thank you for inviting me in.

I wonder if I could ask you about the babies overboard business?

Yes. Certainly. The story that’s coming out now or the story we told at the time?

The story that we’re getting now.

This week’s story?

Yes.

The Monday story? The Tuesday story? Or the one that’s broken subsequently?

Well, perhaps today’s story.

Today’s story?

Yes.

This morning’s story or the one we’re using now?

What’s the difference?

The point I’m making is I have no intention of discussing the period when Peter Reith was saying one thing and I was saying another.

Neither do I. That’s fine.

Look, please don’t interrupt. I’m trying to answer your question with honesty and integrity…

Both of them?

Simultaneously, yes. And you’re interrupting. That’s not very helpful.

OK, I’m sorry.

Neither have I any intention of discussing the period when Peter remembered that he was told it wasn’t true but he’d forgotten to tell me.

Why would he have neglected to do that?

Don’t interrupt, please. It’s not helpful at all.

OK, I’m sorry. Go ahead.

Then of course we had the period when Peter thought he may have told me that the thing was completely untrue but he didn’t tell me in English.

Oh, that’s right. I remember that. Yes, yes, yes. How long did that version last?

It didn’t last very long.

It was almost subliminal, wasn’t it?

I don’t think that was one of our better ones. Then we stumbled on what I believe is an absolute cracker, which was that we were all grossly misinformed by an incompetent public servant.

Public servant. That’s the current version, isn’t it?

What’s the time?

7:55.

Yes, that’s still current, I don’t think we’ve found any involvement that Peter Hollingworth may have with this issue as yet.

So what does he do now, Peter Reith?

Since he retired from Parliament? Peter was lucky enough to secure employment negotiating government defence contracts. (Laughs.) (Laughs.) Really?

Yes. (Laughs.) I’m sorry. I’ll try that again, sorry. Just ask me that again.

So what does he do now, Peter Reith?

Since he retired from Parliament, Peter has been lucky enough to get a job negotiating government defence contracts. (Both parties doubled-over laughing, desperately trying to compose themselves.)

Sorry, that is very funny.

I’m sorry. I apologise.

Can I do it again? So what does Peter Reith do now?

Since he retired from politics, Peter…(fighting back laughter)…I’m sorry. It took us four hours to get this right in the Cabinet room before we could even…

OK. You look that way and I’ll look this way. (They face different directions.)

Yes. Now ask me again.

So what does Peter Reith do now?

Peter Reith, at the moment, is…(Explodes with laughter.)

Maybe we’ll move on. Let me ask you another question. Why do you think people would throw their own children into the sea?

Why would anyone believe that parents would throw their children in the sea? That’s too hard. Ask me the Peter Reith one again.

OK, all right. So, Prime Minister, what does Peter Reith do now?

Peter Reith has got a job selling government defence contracts. (Both parties erupt into laughter.)