which party will give us a leader we accept?, page-39

Hi Dave. Check out this interview. Stuff like this is what turns me off Abbott .

Tony Abbott lying to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell about his SAHM Plan.

On the 14th of May, 2010, Tony Abbott gave an interview to Neil Mitchell on 3AW.

Tony Abbott was asked about a plan for a $10,000 payment to stay at home mums (SAHMS), but refused to admit whether it had been discussed.

Neil Mitchell: What was your plan for a $10,000 payment to stay at home mums, the SAHMS?

Tony Abbott: There isn’t any such plan.

Neil Mitchell: Did you not have such a plan?

Tony Abbott: No. No.

Neil Mitchell: You didn’t personally have one?

Tony Abbott: No, look…

Neil Mitchell: You didn’t put it up to the Shadow Cabinet?

Tony Abbott: I’m always in favour, Neil, of a fair go for families but at the moment the most important priority is to get Labor’s debt and deficit under control. Once that’s happened, sure, we’ll look at benefits for families but at the moment the reckless spending must stop.

Neil Mitchell: Did you propose a $10,000 payment for stay at home mums?

Tony Abbott: No, I didn’t.

Neil Mitchell: Did you propose any payments for stay at home mums?

Tony Abbott: Look, Neil, all sorts of issues are bounced around in Shadow Cabinet, as you’d expect…

Neil Mitchell: And was that one knocked back?

Tony Abbott: …but what matters, but what matters is the decisions that were made.

Neil Mitchell: No, what matters, did you put it up and it was knocked back?

Tony Abbott: No, No. What matters is the decisions that were made.

Neil Mitchell: So, you’re denying that you put this to the Shadow Cabinet are you?

Tony Abbott: I’m saying that we had a discussion that covered all sorts of subjects.

Neil Mitchell: Yeah, but I asked you if you put it up and you said, no, no. So, are you denying that you put it up?

Tony Abbott: And the point is, Neil, you know, conversations that take place in the Shadow Cabinet are conversations that I am allowed to keep to myself and fellow Shadow Cabinet members.

Neil Mitchell: So, I’m just asking, is it a denial or not?

Tony Abbott: What I’ve said is what I’ve said and you can put whatever construction you like on it.

Neil Mitchell: No, but you’ve been contradictory. You said no, no and then you went on to day you wouldn’t say. It’s a simple thing. Was this discussed? Was it raised? Was it rejected?

Tony Abbott: And there was a discussion about many things and I’m not saying that this wasn’t one of the things that we discussed but the important thing is what we decided and what we decided…

Neil Mitchell: Well, let’s just be up front because a minute ago you said no, no.

Tony Abbott: And what we decided was that the reckless spending must stop.

Neil Mitchell: Alright, the reports as you’re well aware is that you put it up and that you were rolled by the Shadow Cabinet. Is that right?

Tony Abbott: Well, I don’t think that is a fair construction to put on…

Neil Mitchell: Well, what is a fair construction?

Tony Abbott: I’m just not going to do that for you, Neil, I mean, we can go around…

Neil Mitchell: Well, what about doing it for the Australian people? Forget me. I mean, you’re the leader, you’ve put up a proposition that’s reported that has been knocked back. Now you’ve mucked around on the answer here, you’ve deliberately tried to avoid it, you’ve deliberately been misleading, how about answering it?

Tony Abbott: Well, Neil, I’ve done the best I can and I’m sorry of I’m a disappointment but I’ve done the best I can.

Neil Mitchell: Oh, don’t play that trick on me.

Tony Abbott: Yeah, I’m sorry mate. I’m being a wimp, ok?

Sources:

http://www.tonyabbott.com.au/LatestNews/InterviewTranscripts/tabid/85/ar...

http://www.3aw.com.au/blogs/3aw-generic-blog/tony-abbotts-budget-reply/2...

http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/politics/abbott-caught-out-dodging-truth-o...