Put a set-top box in every home? If you ask me, I wouldn't even give them a television

THE information super highway is rolling out but we still haven't duplicated the Pacific Highway.

Stephen Conroy May 9:

Some Australians, particularly the elderly, people with disabilities and their carers, may require assistance to switch to digital TV. The Household Assistance Scheme, at no cost to eligible households, supplies a high-definition set-top box, installs it on the person's existing analog TV and demonstrates how to use the equipment.

Labor opposition leader Arthur Calwell, September 18, 1956:

I could not care less if there were no television in this country for the next 20 years.

Let us have houses, hospitals, schools, roads, sewerage, water supplies and all these things before television for the people in Melbourne and Sydney. First things have to come first.

If the Suez crisis is only half as serious as the prime minister (Mr Menzies) has indicated in press statements that he believes it to be, then we ought not to be thinking of television, at least until we have done something for the soldiers of this country and for the increasing population of this country in respect of the primary needs for houses, schools, hospitals and the things that are essential to our wellbeing and national greatness.

A little thing called root and branch reform. Kevin Rudd on the 7.30 Report, April 21, 2008:

I think it is time we actually looked at a root and branch reform of the Australian taxation system.

Branches lopped? The Sydney Morning Herald yesterday:

Referring to a tax summit to be held in October, Mr Swan said he wanted a "really healthy debate".

Filtering online rubbish. Stephen Conroy, December 15, 2009:

Today I am announcing new measures to help Australian families stay safer when they are online.These measures include a grants program to encourage ISPs to offer, on a commercial basis, additional optional ISP-level filtering services for wider categories of content identified by households.

Filtering rubbish spending. The Australian on Wednesday:

The Voluntary Internet Filtering Grants program has been cut, saving the government almost $10 million over three years.

Saving the planet? Kevin Rudd, January 2010:

Preparing for the future is also about preparing for the low-carbon economy of the future. That is why we have created the $2.4 billion Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships Program to support construction and demonstration of large-scale projects.

Saving money. The Australian on Wednesday:

The cutback to the Carbon Capture and Storage Flagships program has been slated to provide $420 million in savings measures.

A story to stand by. The Australian on Saturday:

The Somare government is pressuring Julia Gillard to become personally involved in negotiations to reopen a refugee processing centre in Papua New Guinea. The Weekend Australian understands that efforts were being made last night to set up a phone call between Ms Gillard and Acting PNG Prime Minister Sam Abal.

Press conference on Saturday:

Journalist: Are you involved in those negotiations with PNG, have you spoken to the [PNG] Prime Minister?

Gillard: Yes, I saw a newspaper report this morning, which I presume you're basing your question on, which was wrong.

Another story to stand by. The Australian yesterday:

The Gillard government remains quietly confident that PNG will eventually agree to host a centre, despite the delays in reaching a final decision.

Press conference yesterday:

Journalist: Are you going to get personally involved?

PM: Well, I read reports in the newspaper about my degree of involvement in PNG, and they're all wrong.