FED: I'm sorry OzCar affair still rolling: Turnbull
Fri Aug 7 00:34:19 EST 2009
Subject: [Fwd: FED: I'm sorry OzCar affair still rolling: Turnbull] name="FED: I'm sorry OzCar affair still rolling: Turnbull.eml" filename*0="FED: I'm sorry OzCar affair still rolling: Turnbull.eml" Subject: FED: I'm sorry OzCar affair still rolling: Turnbull FED: I'm sorry OzCar affair still rolling: Turnbull
CANBERRA, Aug 6 AAP - Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull is sorry the OzCar affair has dominated the political agenda for so long, but he's not about to apologise to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd for his role in the saga.
The PM has called on Mr Turnbull to apologise and resign after he accused the government of impropriety on the back of a fake email forged by Treasury official Godwin Grech.
On Thursday night, the Liberal leader said he took responsibility for his own actions but it was time to "move on".
"I'm very sorry that the utegate saga has taken up so much time and distracted so many of us from the real issues that do affect all Australians," Mr Turnbull told ABC TV.
But Mr Rudd and Treasurer Wayne Swan didn't deserve an apology because politics was a tough business and criticism came with the territory, he said.
"In the rough and tumble of politics, oppositions hold governments to account.
"We rely in good faith on the information we receive ... when that information turns out to be wrong then we acknowledge that, take responsibility for what we said, and we should move on."
Mr Turnbull also dismissed speculation some Liberal MPs wanted him replaced as leader - possibly by frontbencher Andrew Robb.
"Politics is a contestable business ... this is a rough and tumble game," he said.
"(But) I have the support of my colleagues."
AAP jcd/apm =0A
FED: I'm sorry OzCar affair still rolling: Turnbull