Lindsay Tanner (Melbourne, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Finance and Deregulation) Share this | Hansard source

Thanks, Mr Speaker. I quote Mr Charlton’s recollection of the statements by the Leader of the Opposition:

Let me give you some advice because I think you have a very promising career ahead of you.

Integrity is the most important thing in the career of a young man.

…            …            …

That is why I encourage you, no matter what the circumstances, no matter what the pressure, not to lie.

…            …            …

This whole Ozcar issue will be very damaging for you.

Let me just give you some friendly advice.

You should not lie to protect your boss.

               …            …            …

You know and I know there is documentary evidence that you have lied.

Everybody knows what the term ‘friendly advice’ means in that context. It is code for ‘crude threat’—that is what ‘friendly advice’ means in those circumstances.

What we have here is the Leader of the Opposition seeking to intimidate a member of the Prime Minister’s staff by claiming he has documentary evidence that he lied. I had a vague recollection of similar words. I notice that a former staffer to a former member for Wentworth, Mr Peter King, had made similar statements about the conduct of the member for Wentworth some time ago. He was rung at his home by the member for Wentworth—

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