Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Shadow Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to his previous answer to the question from the member for Sturt where he defended the Attorney-General. Does the Prime Minister accept the criticism of the Attorney-General by the trial judge, Justice Bongiorno:

It’s abundantly clear it would have been to the enhancement of justice in this country if these comments had not been made … They were unnecessary and had the potential to cause difficulties in this trial.

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said in response to the question from the member for Sturt, the government’s view on terrorism is hard line, and that means through the prosecution agencies; it means in supporting the independence of our judiciary. Obviously members of the bench are going to take exception from time to time with statements from members of the government or members of the public or, for that matter, members of the opposition. I stand entirely by this government’s position, which is that we will take a hard line on terrorism in the future, without fear or favour.