Bob McMullan Fraser, Australian Labor Party
3:10 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Bob McMullan Fraser, Australian Labor Party
I wish to refer to a matter which the Treasurer raised in question time today and which he has raised on a number of occasions. I have ignored it because, fortunately, everybody else has, but I have got sick of it. I have never compared, as a benchmark for Australia’s economic performance, any of the developing countries to which the Treasurer referred. In the article, I did say Australians were better off than those people in developing countries, because I was advocating giving overseas aid to those countries.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
3:11 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
I certainly do, Mr Speaker.
Kim Beazley Brand, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition
It is yet again by the Minister for Education, Science and Training. I made amply clear that there was no freeze on the funds that will be made available to all schools under our proposals when we get into office. They will be adjusted annually by their inflation index, keeping up with inflation amongst schools. The school system has their own index.
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
3:12 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Wayne Swan Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Treasurer
During question time, the Treasurer referred to a caucus committee that I chaired. I have a vivid memory of being at that committee with the Minister for Defence, Dr Nelson, with his earring, and he thought we were doing a splendid job. I say to the Treasurer that continually blowing your own horn, as you did today, sends your battery flat.
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The member for Lilley will resume his seat. I remind the member for Lilley that, when he seeks the indulgence of the chair to make a personal explanation, he will show where he personally has been misrepresented. He will not debate the issue.