I decided few years ago to leave the bar to pursue a career in politics because I wanted to make a contribution in Parliament.

One of the things about federal politics is that it has been remarkably free of corruption.

I joined the Young Liberals when I was 16 and it was a good way for me to understand how the Liberal Party worked and to learn basic political skills and techniques.

The arts are part of a nation's identity, they are part of a nation's soul and when we look at a country from the eyes of people overseas they are part of a nations branding in the world as it were.

The tyranny of distance is such an important element of policy and the allocation of resources.

It is a necessary precondition for the success of a referendum that there should be broad community consensus and bipartisan support for it.

The crime of bribery of foreign officials is an offence under the Commonwealth Criminal Code.

I don't really know a lot about these 'anti-protest' laws. I'm only vaguely aware of them, but I don't have enough detailed knowledge about them to comment.

I was President of the Queensland Young Liberals in 1981.

I was interested in politics since the age of 14.

There have been 44 constitutional referenda in Australia and only eight have succeeded.

The general tendency of things throughout the world is to render mediocrity the ascendant power among mankind.

Having a safe space to imagine and dream and (re)invent yourself is the first step to being happy and successful, whatever road you choose to pursue.

Our house is like an empty cigarette packet, lying around reminding you what's not in it.

That's all it took to solve problems - just sense.

I think people dismiss celebrity memoirs as unreal, contrived and maybe partially made up. But that's definitely not true for anything that I write.

It's not who you are, but whose you are that counts. Because God is your heavenly Father, doors of opportunity will open for you.

I always wanted to write a story about a couple coming to that moment in their relationship where either they keep on going or it ends.

Up and down our lives obedient Walk, dear Christ, with footsteps radiant, Till those garden lives shall be Fair with duties done for Thee; And our thankful spirits say, "Christ arose on Easter Day."

Nothing succeeds like - failure.

If you never tried you will never know. Anyway we are going to die why dont we try our best