House debates

Thursday, 26 October 2017

Personal Explanations

10:21 am

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | | Hansard source

I wish to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Rob MitchellRob Mitchell (McEwen, Australian Labor Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Share this | | Hansard source

I do. This morning on Sky News, Minister Porter was interviewed by Kieran Gilbert. The interview said:

Kieran Gilbert: It was emerged earlier in the day. Mr Albanese made the assertion, then reports emerged. Surely amid the speculation that there was a tip-off there would have been questions asked.

Minister Porter: Well, Mr Albanese's assertion was that the minister herself had called the media, which—

Kieran Gilbert: Was not far off.

Minister Porter: Well, that is a very serious assertion itself.

Kieran Gilber: It wasn't far off. It was from her office.

Minister Porter: It was very far off. It was absolutely wrong.

Earlier this morning I tabled my comments from the FIVEaa program yesterday in a debate with Christopher Pyne in the Two Tribes segment. I think it's now accepted that I absolutely said that it was the minister's staff who had briefed the media. We now know that that is a fact. Minister Porter contacted me and apologised for his error. I accept his apology and note that that is a mature way in which members should deal with each other. I'm yet to receive an apology from Minister Cash.