House debates

Wednesday, 24 November 2021

Statements

Personal Explanation

3:20 pm

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Andrew WallaceAndrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the Leader of the Opposition claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

I do.

Photo of Andrew WallaceAndrew Wallace (Fisher, Liberal Party) Share this | | Hansard source

The Leader of the Opposition has the call.

Photo of Anthony AlbaneseAnthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | | Hansard source

Today in question time the Prime Minister said:

I'm so pleased that we didn't have to rely on the opposition during the pandemic, because we wouldn't have got the results.

I refer to the Prime Minister's own statement of 10 December 2020 when he said in parliament, 'I thank the opposition for their support in ensuring that was made possible,' when the changes to the legislation went through. And the Treasurer, on 26 August 2020, said:

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the opposition for the constructive approach they have taken to progressing this legislation through the parliament swiftly to provide certainty to Australian businesses and employees.

The fact is that it was only because the opposition cooperated with the government that the parliament was able to sit and that any of that legislation was carried, which all went through this parliament with the opposition's support.