Liberal Frontbencher - 10 August

TUESDAY 10/08/10

Morning

Abbott in Sydney.

Abbott Press Secretary (APS) says we need to get to broadband announcement.

Abbott has changed mind. Wants to join Morrison in post-Nauru press conference. APS shocked - says broadband issue important. Abbott disagrees, says number one issue is boats. Broadband is wayyyyy down list, after economy, taxes, waste, parental leave and abortion.

APS glares at Abbott.

Abbott says he was joking. Bringing back Workchoices comes before abortion!

11:00am

In car, between events. APS tries to give Abbott broadband briefing paper.

Minchin throws briefing out window. Minchin thinks every word Abbott reads about broadband policy makes him less fair dinkum.

APS says internet is area where knowledge of detail essential.

Minchin disagrees - points to Christopher Pyne as example. Pyne has lots and lots of detail. Does APS want Abbott to be more like Christopher Pyne?

Abbott shudders.

APS annoyed - says Abbott needs specifics for 7:30 Report interview.

Abbott says policy specifics irrelevant, government is incompetent. Common sense and Rhodes Scholarship will get him through interview.

1:00pm

Abbott's daughters call using 'Skype'. Abbott asks who this 'Skype' is and why he let all three of them use his phone?

Daughters want to upgrade home modem.

Abbott will not upgrade unless he sees clear business case. Will not waste money so kids can spend study time on facebook.

Minchin says he's impressed to see Abbott living 'real action' mantra.

3:00pm

Meet Hockey and Minchin to discuss costings.

Hockey feels really stretched getting policies ready for costing on Friday.

Minchin and I aghast. Ask why Hockey would put policies for costing?

Hockey wants to set new standard of honesty. Also, would really like someone to check his working.

Minchin explains to Hockey that "costing is death".

Hockey thought needed costing to deliver promises?

Minchin tells Hockey not to worry. When we get into Government we will discover that nation's finances are in catastrophic state, much worse than we ever imagined, and have to cut in order to save nation from disaster.

Hockey feels we should tell people about perilous state of finances. Asks "don't people deserve to know?"

Minchin says if we announce it, we can't discover it, which means we can't make promises that we can't pay for.

Hockey incredibly confused.

8:00pm

In car post 7:30 Report interview. Awkward silence.

Phone rings. Campaign Manager (CM).

CM is at trivia night. Has really tough question. Asks if I can name the election where the opposition won despite their main line of attack being "I don't f*#king understand my own f**king policy because I'm not a f**king Techhead".

Concur with CM, interview went badly - promise to get Abbott's daughters to brief him on internet.

8:30pm

Back at hotel.

Abbott jogs outside to take call from family.

10 minutes later

Abbott says we have problem. Daughters are really angry that Abbott doesn't care about fast internet. Are threatening to boycott campaign events. Abbott hates internet.

APS says we must respond to crisis. Abbott must upgrade home modem immediately.

This entry originally published at BigPond News as part of their Federal Election 2010 coverage.