I was surprised by the statemanlike quality of Brendan Nelson's response speech. Trying to drag a party back from the stone age is a hard task for a leader. Unappreciated by some, to the extent of a slow handclap and walkout, were his comments that he feels no guilt and nor should anyone alive today.

Unknown to me was the fact that he himself was 'stolen' from his own teenage mother. This makes his comments that removal was, and still is the method of dealing with 'children at risk', more meaningful.