Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I put that badly! We were politically arguing questions of health and questions of procedure in this House. We were for a while a Punch and Judy show for Australian politics and from time to time, when we were in that phase of our political careers, I did remark that it was my aspiration to see Tony as Leader of the Opposition, so there we have it. It would be my aspiration for Tony to remain in that job for a very long, long time. I wish him luck in that: long service as Leader of the Opposition. To my counterpart, the Deputy Leader of the Opposition: we spent the end of last year in what I thought were very good-natured Catwoman jokes. I think she has one attribute—nine lives—which is coming in very handy indeed for her. My congratulations to her.

I say to the former Leader of the Opposition, Mr Malcolm Turnbull, that politics is a fascinating business, it is an uplifting business and it is also from time to time a very bruising business. Unfortunately, part of the required art form is to not show when you have taken some bruises. I think Mr Turnbull in his conduct in the past few days has shown himself to be a man of great honour. He is a man who is conducting himself in a very gracious and dignified way now. We wish for him some moments of quiet repose and some good and happy days with his family over the forthcoming Christmas period.

See this speech in context