Both Mum and Dad were converts to Catholicism, and normally if you convert to Catholicism you have thought about it more than someone who just grew up with it, taking it for granted. Tony Abbott catholicismconvertdad Change image and share on social
I'm not saying that people on welfare don't contribute in their own way, but as many as possible should be encouraged to be economically active as well as socially and culturally active. Tony Abbott activecontributeculturally Change image and share on social
I am in favour of the notion of Australia as an immigrant society. Tony Abbott australiafavourimmigrant Change image and share on social
If I was in a refugee camp somewhere on the Pakistani border, of course I'd want to come to Australia. Tony Abbott australiabordercamp Change image and share on social
The problem with politicians getting to know the issues in indigenous townships is that we tend to suffer from what Aboriginal people call the 'seagull syndrome' - we fly in, scratch around and fly out. Tony Abbott aboriginalcallfly share on social
I see myself as a social conservative, but I think that there are lots of social institutions that produce beneficial reforms, like public hospitals, for instance, and schools. Tony Abbott beneficialconservativehospital Change image and share on social
I mean there are many, many people in all sorts of different countries who don't have a great life, who are subject to injustice. Are we obliged to take all of them who come here? I think the answer is 'Not necessarily.' Tony Abbott answercountrygreat share on social
I think that people should come to Australia through the front door, not through the back door. If people want a migration outcome, they should go through the migration channels. Tony Abbott australiabackchannel Change image and share on social
I think that political marriages are subject to more strain than most precisely because of the nature of politics. Tony Abbott marriagenaturepolitic Change image and share on social
I think my wife and my kids are incredibly good to allow me to stay in public life given that they have to cop a whole lot of collateral attention that, being human, they'd rather not get. Tony Abbott attentioncollateralcop Change image and share on social