Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

What we have seen yet again from the Leader of the Opposition is the jeering, sneering and smearing that unfortunately is all that this opposition is capable of. Jeering, sneering and smearing is all they can do. They have no policies, because they have not learnt and they cannot change. That is the problem with members opposite—they are simply incapable of rising to the challenge of being a genuine alternative government.

I have been asked about the Attorney-General. Of course I have confidence in the Attorney-General. The Attorney General is a stalwart defender of free speech in this country, but he also wants to ensure that free speech is not abused. And that is absolutely the right thing. We want people to be free to speak their mind, but we do not want them to be free to promote the sorts of activities that will be a menace to this country and its citizens. I trust the Attorney General to get that particular balance right. The Attorney-General is, in fact, the chief security officer of our country. He is the first law officer of the Crown, and he is the chief security officer of our country.

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