Peter Garrett MP
Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Environment
Member for Kingsford Smith
E & O E Proof only
Subjects: Melbourne Airport comment; the passing of Peter Andren
GARRETT: I'll begin if you're ready gentlemen, ladies and gentlemen, by saying how very, very sorry I was to hear of the passing of Peter Andren this morning. We've just found out here at Eastlakes, and knowing Peter and the contribution that he made and the real struggle that he had with his illness, makes his passing, I think, a very tragic event. And I certainly want to pass on my deep sympathy to Peter's family and to his partner . recognising that Peter Andren really did make a distinctive contribution to political life and was well loved and well respected across political boundaries.
Look, I've had occasion to speak to Kevin Rudd this morning - and Kevin's called me back - to explain my jocular comments to Steve Price in an airport lounge. Certainly I want to be very clear about the fact that it was a joke, I think Richard Wilkins has made that clear as well.
It's was a probably a dumb thing to have done, certainly the way in which it's now carrying on around the country is a clear indication that we won't be having any more conversations with Steve Price in an airport lounge or anywhere else for that matter.
Importantly, I accept that this was a short and a brief conversation - very brief and very short - the comments were not meant to be taken seriously. It was a jocular comment.
Certainly we reckon that we will have better policies and good policies to take to people at the election but for the moment I accept responsibility for cracking a joke at the wrong time and the wrong place.
On that basis I've said to Kevin 'hey mate, sorry for the stuff up' and now we'll just get on with the job at hand.
JOURNALIST: [inaudible]
GARRETT: Well look, you know, this was a very short conversation. It was a jocular conversation. I think Richard Wilkins who was there has said 'look, they were just off the cuff remarks,' made in a glib fashion.
To that extent if he [Price] chooses to go and use it on his radio station that's his business. For me, it's just one of those comments and we'll just get on with life.
JOURNALIST: Why did you make the comments, I mean there must be something, in your head.
GARRETT: Well I think it was just one of those off the cuff remarks, it was just a joke - a joke he seems to have taken very seriously.
I think Australians have got a sense of humour. I don't think it's a sin to have a sense of humour. But in this context, in the heat of an election campaign, clearly those remarks could be constituted in other ways if Steve Price chooses to do it. So I've said 'hey, stuff-up, let's move on.'
JOURNALIST: Mark Vaile says the comments came from the heart. Were you speaking from the heart Mr Garrett?
GARRETT: I'll speak from the heart by saying that we'll take the policies that have been identified by Kevin Rudd and the Labor team to the election. And the changes that can happen are profound: industrial relations reform, reform of the education system, ratifying the Kyoto Protocol instantly - they're good changes for the country.
And at the end of day, to have a couple of sentences with Steve Price at an airport lounge in Melbourne in a joking fashion, that's what this is all about.
JOURNALIST: Do you acknowledge then yourself that you agree with the public perception that there is a bit of 'me-tooism' going on in the election?
GARRETT: What I say is that I reckon we've got a sense of humour, but probably expressing it in an airport lounge, with a radio announcer like Steve Price, very quickly in Melbourne, wasn't the best thing to do. A bit of a stuff up, let's just move on.
JOURNALIST: Is the joking over for the election campaign?
GARRETT: Oh well, I've said everything I need to say about the campaign now and making jokes I think.
JOURNALIST: Did Kevin Rudd share your sense of humour this morning?
GARRETT: Look I just apologised to Kevin and said 'hey mate, this is what's happened' and he's accepted the apology. We agree it's a bit of a stuff up and we won't be making jokes like that in airport lounges with radio announcers and that's the end of it.
JOURNALIST: Why do you think it's been blown out of proportion?
GARRETT: Well, look, all I can say again is this bloke's got access to the airwaves. It was a short, brief and joking conversation. The issues are important for Australians. This is just in the context of some quick, glib, off the cuff remarks. So, a bit of a stumble but let's just get on with it.