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

Yes, I worked with him. He is not a bad bloke to work with. Our politics may be different, but when the interests of Australians living in Queensland are involved he and I can work together in a very cooperative fashion. This is what he had to say:

On other issues, in terms of health, I’m absolutely delighted with the Prime Minister’s offer to the States to provide additional doctors. It means an additional 150 training places in Queensland and I won’t go through the nurses and allied health professionals, but that is a significant advance for skilling Australians to actually look after Australians.

But he got even more lyrical as the press conference wore on:

... we have cooperative federalism, we put party politics aside and work in the interest of Australia. For those who seek to undermine it, I just simply say look at the outcomes today and anyone with half a brain will fully support it.

Let me say to the Leader of the Opposition: have half a brain; stop undermining this cooperative federalism.

See this speech in context