Dick Adams (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer the Prime Minister to today’s Telstra share price of $3.73. I also refer the Prime Minister to the plight of the thousands of small shareholders who bought shares in T2 for $7.40, which the Prime Minister described as ‘an extremely good deal’. Will the Prime Minister repeat the claim? Is T3 an extremely good deal?

John Howard (Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) | Link to this | Hansard source

We are all subject to the rule of law in this country. The law has been changed since T2, and I am prevented thereby from giving investment advice. I thank the member for Lyons, who I know enjoys the respect of many people on both sides of this House, for honouring me with a belief that I could give bona fide investment advice. If I were free to do so, I would express my view, but the law, as amended by this parliament since T2, now enjoins me and I am restrained. I can talk about other things to do with Telstra but not about the share price.