7.30: Leigh Sales asks Malcolm Turnbull ‘What was point of knifing Abbott?’

Malcolm Turnbull takes offence at “violent metaphor” and bats away suggestions of a rift with Scott Morrison | WATCH

Why was Abbott knifed?

Malcolm Turnbull has moved to differentiate himself from his predecessor Tony Abbott, citing his government’s reforms on media ownership laws, innovation, cities policy and new senate voting rules.

Speaking on ABC’s 7.30 program, the prime minister took offence when host Leigh Sales asked him what the point of “knifing” Mr Abbott was.

“What was the point of knifing Tony Abbott?” she put to him.

“Well, I don’t want to buy into those sort of unpleasant metaphors,” Mr Turnbull replied. “We shouldn’t be using violent metaphors like that.”

.@TurnbullMalcolm says he won't buy into violent metaphors when asked what the point of "knifing" @TonyAbbottMHR was https://t.co/vwY4btxdcM

— abc730 (@abc730) March 21, 2016

Sales questioned whether there had been any substantial policy change between himself and Mr Abbott.

“Firstly we dealt with Senate voting reform,” he said.

“That was not on the agenda and it’s done and been voted in and done. Secondly, we have a cities policy…. It is now the Government’s policy and we will be proceeding to bring our media ownership laws into the 21st Century. Right across the agenda of innovation, that is an innovation of my prime ministership.

“As you go from one Liberal PM to another, you have continuity and you have change and there has been a lot of change,” he said.

In full: @leighsales interviews Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull on ABCC, tax reform, negative gearing #abc730 https://t.co/XVPxmm9WJz

— abc730 (@abc730) March 21, 2016

The prime minister also batted away suggestions of a rift with Scott Morrison, as the treasurer was maintaining the budget date of May 10 minutes before Mr Turnbull announced it would be brought down on May 3.

“The Treasurer was aware that we were considering a whole range of options,” the prime minister said, “but until I made the decision to change the date of the Budget, the Budget was on the 10 of May.”

“Do you think your relationship with the Treasurer is functioning effectively?” Sales then asked.

“Of course it is, it’s excellent. I’ve known him for many years, decades,” Mr Turnbull replied.

The prime minister also defended his surprise move to recall parliament to force the senate to vote on his push to reinstate the building industry watchdog, saying “lawlessness and corruption” in the construction industry must be dealt with.

“Many if not most Australians are well aware of the level of lawlessness and corruption and waste in the construction industry,” he said.

“The Heydon Royal Commission set it out very graphically, if we had reason to doubt it. There is about a hundred officials of the CFMEU and members of the CFMEU facing court proceedings at the moment.

“Do you know, Leigh, nearly 70% of all of the industrial disputes in Australia are in the construction sector and that tells you that Hayden was right and I believe we are right,” he said.

Sales asked the prime minister whether a comprehensive workplace reform policy would be unveiled before the election.