Warren Truss (Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. I refer him to many of his answers already today where he has blamed the global financial crisis for his debt and budget deficit. I remind the Prime Minister of his statement to Landline on 4 March 2008 where he said:

As Prime Minister, I take responsibility for the Australian economy, the good news and the bad news.

Does the Prime Minister still take responsibility for the bad news in the Australian economy?

Kevin Rudd (Griffith, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Leader of the National Party will be aware that from this dispatch box in the past I have said precisely that. I take responsibility for the future direction of this economy. I am responsible for the good news. I am responsible for the bad news. I take responsibility for the lot. That is what leadership is about, as opposed to the poor substitute we see opposite.