PRIME MINISTER:
I don't want to talk about internal party meetings but I think everybody feels very strongly that the Liberal Party brand in Queensland is the strongest political brand in that State, certainly if you look at things federally, and I am a strong Coalitionist and I will do everything I can do help the two parties do well in the next Queensland election, whenever that may be.
JOURNALIST:
Should Mark Vaile give up his job as Trade Minister?
PRIME MINISTER:
I beg your pardon?
JOURNALIST:
Should Mark Vaile give up being Trade Minister?
PRIME MINISTER:
That is not something that I would talk about here, he's doing a very good job as Trade Minister. If he wanted some different arrangement I would naturally talk to him about it.
JOURNALIST:
Ron Boswell says that he should stand aside from that portfolio and take a domestic portfolio, he said that this morning. Will you be looking at that and particularly...?
PRIME MINISTER:
I am not going to canvass that here.
JOURNALIST:
Prime Minister, do you believe the merger would help the Coalition parties in Queensland?
PRIME MINISTER:
I think myself that the only two scenarios can be the one that I described a couple of days ago and that is everybody joining the Liberal Party in Queensland or alternatively, a very strong functioning Coalition.
JOURNALIST:
Do you think that first option would help them though?
PRIME MINISTER:
I think that if the two parties worked together in Coalition they will get the best result.
Thank you.
[ends]