What's good for the goose...

From the transcript of Malcolm Turnbull MP interview with Chris Uhlmann ABC AM Program 25 September 2008.

UHLMANN:
You say that they have mocked pensioners, they knocked back a bill which you raised in the Senate which was…do you believe that that bill was constitutional? You’re also a lawyer.

MR TURNBULL:
Well I take the Clerk of the Senate, Harry Evans, who is a greater expert than either of us in these areas.

UHLMANN:
And he disagrees with the Clerk of the House of Representatives.

MR TURNBULL:
Well I accept what the Clerk of the Senate said, Chris. But Chris let’s not argue about the constitution here. Let’s look…

UHLMANN:
But wasn’t it a stunt?

MR TURNBULL:
I do not believe that giving pensioners $30 extra a week is a stunt. These are pensioners who are living, trying to live on a pension that the Treasurer and the Prime Minister and the acting Prime Minister have said is impossible to live on. This Government has so little respect for pensioners they’re prepared to say, ‘We are sitting on a $22 billion surplus, you pensioners are trying to live on a pension, we the Government could not live on, but we will not give you a cent.’ Now that is just cruelty. It’s cold indifference.

UHLMANN:
But the cabinet last year, a cabinet that you were a member of also knocked back that $30 a week pay rise. So why wasn’t that cruelty and cold indifference?

MR TURNBULL:
Last year was last year. The cabinet this year, Chris, the fact is there has been enormous price inflation in the…

UHLMANN:
But you’re asking them to do something which you would not do yourself?

MR TURNBULL:
Chris last year the circumstances were different. There was enormous price inflation just in the last six months. I mean Margaret May in the parliament yesterday ran through the figures. Massive increases in milk, in bread, in tea and coffee, petrol of course. Not luxuries, necessities. Now that is what this Government has been indifferent to. That’s the arrogance.

UHLMANN:
So too hard for you last year when we had some inflation and easy now that the world financial system is melting down and we have inflation?

MR TURNBULL:
Chris we have a Government that is indifferent to the plight of the people in Australia who are doing it toughest. They have a $22 billion surplus; they say you cannot live on the pension. They cannot live on the pension and they will not lift a finger. And it is that inaction, that arrogance, that indifference- it is hypocrisy. How can you say, how can you look pensioners in the eye and say it’s impossible to live on what you’ve got but I’m not going to do anything to help you?

UHLMANN:
Malcolm Turnbull, thank you.