Interview with Lisa Wilkinson, Today Show (transcript via Tony Abbott.com)
Posted on Friday, 5 October 2012
Subjects: Tony and Margie Abbott.
LISA WILKINSON: I’m pleased to say Margie and Tony Abbott join me now. Good morning to both of you.
MARGIE ABBOTT: Good morning, Lisa.
TONY ABBOTT: Look, morning, Lisa.
LISA WILKINSON: Mr Abbott, Downton Abbey? Your rugby mates will be crying in their beer! What is that about?
TONY ABBOTT: Well, look, I guess I’ve just changed over the years, haven’t I? But look, I still enjoy watching footballers, but I did really fall in love with Downton Abbey. It was a great programme about managing domestic servants, tidy uniforms and that old virtue, the old virtue of unconditional obedience to authority.
LISA WILKINSON: He is a softie isn’t he, Margie?
MARGIE ABBOTT: He is, absolutely, Lisa. He is a softie and, dare I say it, I didn’t win the battle. We watched Downton Abbey and Tony is our lord-of-the- manor in waiting, is he not Lisa?
LISA WILKINSON: But you wanted to watch the footballers, Tony?
TONY ABBOTT: Well, I think the important thing, Lisa, was that we were together on the lounge and you know, viewing what we hope will be the Australia of the future, a future characterised by good ol’ fashioned hard work, respect for one’superiors…at the end of the day, to be quite frank…men at work…men…
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