The Treasurer has been under fire since making the comments on Wednesday, which he originally stood by. He argued that plans to index fuel excise twice-yearly was a progressive measure that would take more money from high income earners.
However, in an embarrassing rebuke on Friday morning, Prime Minister Tony Abbott said he wouldn’t make the comment that Mr Hockey did.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne also distanced himself from his colleague, declining six times on morning national television to back the remarks.
Mr Hockey took to the airwaves on Friday afternoon, repeatedly insisting he was sorry for the way the words came out and that there was no “evil intent”.
“They were obviously insensitive. What was said can’t be unsaid. I can only apologise for any hurt I’ve caused,” he told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
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“I am really genuinely sorry that there is any suggestion, any suggestion at all that I or the government does not care for the most disadvantaged in the community.”
He conceded the gaffe had stymied the government’s message about the need for budget repair but said he had not been asked to publicly apologise.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten slammed the apology as 48 hours too late, building on his earlier criticism that the Treasurer was from “Planet Hockey” and out of touch with the Australian public.
