In all likelihood, a good question has been asked and is not being answered. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull during a press conference in Randwick. Credit:Andrew Meares At a press conference on Monday, Mr Turnbull was asked about a new poll showing 15 per cent of voters are considering voting for a minor party or an independent. "What are the major parties failing to do to convince people to vote for one of them?" asked the reporter. "Well can I say, as I've said before, the only way to be sure that there will be a stable federal government, committed to a national economic plan that will deliver stronger economic growth and more and better jobs, is to vote for the Coalition," responded the PM.

It's the Prime Minister's favourite fallback, a security blanket to wrap around himself when under attack, a springboard to launch into the answer he wants to give regardless of what he has been asked. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten fronts the cameras in Glen Waverley. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The ultimate example came in the National Press Club leaders' debate, when press gallery veteran Laura Tingle asked Mr Turnbull what he would say to voters who feel he has abandoned his long-held beliefs. "Well can I say to you, if you want to talk about climate change I'm very happy to talk about climate change," Mr Turnbull said when when pressed to answer the question.

Despite being reminded he had been asked to address voters' personal disappointment in him, Mr Turnbull stormed ahead with a spiel on the Coalition's climate change policy. When feeling expansive, Mr Turnbull mixes things up by giving "Can I just say" a whirl. Asked to comment on Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's controversial comments last month about illiterate asylum seekers stealing Australian jobs, Mr Turnbull responded: "Well can I just say this to you. We have the most successful multicultural society in the world." And did Mr Turnbull feel happy to be named in the Panama Papers during the election campaign? "Well can I just say to you that as the article acknowledged, there is no suggestion of any impropriety whatsoever," he said.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten has his own magical manoeuvre to deflect uncomfortable questions: reject the "characterisation" of the question before moving on to his chosen message. He'll then often follow up with another personal favourite: "The truth of the matter is..." "I don't accept your characterisation at all, Andrew, with respect," Mr Shorten replied last month when asked about a Queensland bank's objection to Labor co-opting its "people first" motto. (Overly polite phrases such as "with respect" are another sign a question is being avoided. Similarly, when a politician says "Now let me be frank" what follows will inevitably be anything but.) Following Labor's announcement it would not restore the Schoolkids Bonus, Mr Shorten was asked to promise voters there won't be any further broken promises or backflips on Labor's old policies. "Well I don't accept the characterisation about broken promises or backflips at all," he said.