John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

The indomitable John Shovelan asked a very searching question on the PM program. He said, ‘Mr Beazley, why is it that the government thinks it is unnecessary for the Prime Minister to turn up each day? Why is it that we need to cut his requirement at question time?’ Mr Beazley said in response, ‘Well, there are very few governments who think it is necessary for the Prime Minister to turn up every day.’ Such arrogance. I can assure the Leader of the Opposition that, for so long as I am Prime Minister of this country, I will turn up every day, I will make myself accountable and I will go on answering double the number of questions of any of my predecessors, let alone Labor predecessors. This is the most accountable executive since Federation.

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