BENSON: Penny Wong, the Opposition yesterday set out ways that they say you can save $2 billion. Did you see any merit in their proposals?
WONG: What we saw yesterday was Mr Abbott showing that he talks tough but hes not capable of taking tough decisions. The reality is most of what he put on the table was deferrals rather than reductions from the budget. Hes also claimed more savings than there are. We know that some of the savings hes claimed is actually funds that have already been committed.
And hes double counting. The fact is, there are savings in the total package which hes used before for his election campaign. And which now hes using again to fund the total $5.6 billion for the floods package. So the fact is theres double counting. Theres not the tough decisions.
But I think whats of interest is this Mr Abbott has done a lot of tough talking. Hes been talking tough about how easy it is to find savings. Hes been talking tough about scrapping the NBN. Hes been talking tough, but he hasnt delivered.
BENSON: You have to introduce this legislation for the recovery program, the recovery spending, into a Lower House where you are in the minority, then an Upper House where you are in a minority. How soon do you think youll get some form of legislation through those barriers?
WONG: Thats obviously a matter for the Parliament. But we hope that members of Parliament and Senators from all sides will see the importance of giving Queensland and other flood affected areas in Australia, the certainty they need to rebuild.
We want to make sure we can get these funds out the door. We can get a package very clearly set up, legislated to give these communities, these families, the certainty they need.
The focus of the Government is absolutely on rebuilding Queensland and other flood affected parts of Australia, thats what this package does, and it does it in a sensible and responsible way.
BENSON: Parliament today should be a cooler place given that it is considering issues of finance rather than the emotional issues yesterday. It was a remarkable day Julia Gillard had been accused of being a wooden Prime Minister, yesterday there was quite a different Prime Minister in Parliament.
WONG: Julia spent many weeks, in these last weeks, being with people whose lives have been really affected, some shattered. Shes been in a lot of areas where we know theres been some loss of life certainly peoples houses and homes and communities have been in some cases destroyed. You cant go through that and not be personally affected for the people whose sorrow youve been touched by.
BENSON: Tony Abbott was also the focus of attention because of remarks he made in Afghanistan about the death of an Australian soldier there last August. And also because of his response on camera which was seen as mute fury in general. Do you think Tony Abbott has anything to apologise for there?
WONG: I understand Mr Abbotts made some comments and statements about that matter and I dont propose to add to that.
BENSON: Does it raise questions about Tony Abbotts temperament in your mind?
WONG: As I said, I think Mr Abbotts responded to that and I dont think Im in a position to add to that. I accept what he said and I think hes outlined his position very clearly.
BENSON: Penny Wong, thanks very much.
WONG: Good to speak with you.