JOURNALIST: Minister, good afternoon to you.
WONG: Good afternoon, good to be with you.
JOURNALIST: Now, are you confident that this carbon tax legislation is 100 percent legally sound?
WONG: Were confident in the legislative basis of the carbon price. What I would say is, Mr Palmer is a very wealthy man, and hes been very clear that hes prepared to enter the political fray in order to push his private business interests. And this is no different.
JOURNALIST: Senator, on another issue thats been quite big in the last couple of days, what happens if the Government cant convince the Greens to pass the company tax cuts legislation?
WONG: You know, we live in a pretty extraordinary time in politics where youve got a new type of Liberal Party. Its a Liberal Party that votes against tax cuts. A Liberal Party that votes against tax cuts for small business, and wants to join with the Australian Greens to deny a tax cut to the broader economy. This is firmly in Mr Abbotts court, and he can do the right thing, whats in the national interest and whats in the interest of the economy, and support our tax cuts.
JOURNALIST: OK, just finally Senator, can you explain why the Government ignored the advice of the Future Fund Board, and appointed David Gonski as Chair, rather than the former Treasurer, Peter Costello?
WONG: Because David Gonski is the best person for the job. Thats why his appointment has been widely welcomed, including by the Shadow Treasurer, Joe Hockey, and the Shadow Finance Minister, Andrew Robb. They welcomed his appointment, as has the business community, because hes the best man for the job.
JOURNALIST: Alright, Finance Minister Penny Wong, well have to leave it there, thank you very much for your time this afternoon.
WONG: Good to be with you again.
ENDS