Dick Adams (Lyons, Australian Labor Party) Share this | 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) Share this | 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.