Prime Minister
PRIME MINISTER: Good morning, everyone. There are many prayers this morning. Of course, many prayers for the victims of the bushfires and the many other challenges that are confronting our nation in the drought. But I tell you, over the last couple of days, it's hard for me to go past the prayers for the Abdallah family in Sydney today, to Antony, Angelina and Sienna, to their cousin Veronique. This is just the most heartbreaking of things. All of us who are parents find it unthinkable to lose all three children on one day, but to hear the great expression of the faith from their mother in forgiveness, I think humbles us all. That is the true expression of faith and love that is impossible to match and I just pray for their strength as a family. They will be grieving beyond imagination. But the strength they have shown and clearly the faith they have is holding them together at this difficult time and Jenny and I pass on our deepest sympathies to them and their entire community, and thanks to the broader generosity of spirit of Australians who have reached out to them at this terribly, terribly difficult time.
Of course, we are also focused today on our memorial to the bushfire victims and there'll be the motion of condolence when Parliament resumes today. There'll also be an opportunity for us to meet and gather with some of those who have been directly affected together as a Parliament, across the aisle, and I thank the Parliament for the cooperation on that today. So today for the Parliament it is very much a focus on reflecting on the terrible losses over the summer, to reflect on the lessons of the summer and to say very clearly that Australians are not overcome. Australians are not overwhelmed and Australians are strong and the Government will be there with them every step of the way as they rebuild and they rebuild back better. And Australia will go forward in what has been a very difficult start to the year with the strength and character that it's well known for and the Government will do the same.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, is it a distraction to all of these important issues to have these questions over the leadership of the Nationals?
PRIME MINISTER: Not to me. I'm focused very much on the important business we have to do today in this Parliament and to honour those who have given so much for their country and in many cases have lost everything.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible]
PRIME MINISTER: Sorry, I can’t hear you.
JOURNALIST: You have to work with your Coalition partners, the National Party, you’ve been repeatedly strong in your support of Michael McCormack. Can you work with Barnaby Joyce if he is elected as leader of the Nationals?
PRIME MINISTER: The Coalition is between the Liberals and Nationals and that Coalition has always provided very stable and very good government for this country. In fact, that Coalition Government has been the majority form of government for most of our time, since certainly the Liberal Party was formed and that Coalition is always strong.
JOURNALIST: But can you work with Barnaby Joyce if he’s the leader of the Nationals?
PRIME MINISTER: The Coalition will always be strong and the leaders of the parties have always worked closely together for the good of the country.
JOURNALIST: Have you spoken with Mr McCormack and what have you said to him?
PRIME MINISTER: I said good morning. Michael and I are good friends, as are Catherine and Jenny, and it’s always lovely to see them.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, as you mentioned we are here to remember the bushfires and all that’s happened over this summer. What do you think people who went through that will be making of the fact that on their first day back in Parliament the Nationals, who after all are supposed to be representing rural Australia, are fighting amongst themselves about who should be leader?
PRIME MINISTER: Those matters will be sorted out very promptly this morning. And then the important attention of the nation will be on the condolence motion, and the Parliament has been reserved for the full day today to give total focus on that. That's the focus today. That's my focus. But again, to the Abdallah family, my thoughts and prayers, my heartfelt sincere condolences are to them. We love you and you have a God who loves you, you know beyond measure. Thank you so much.