Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
3:21 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
I do, Mr Speaker—
Jenny Macklin Jagajaga, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition
by the Prime Minister in question time. The Prime Minister should go down to Naracoorte and talk to the local workers who are being stood down, losing pay, when foreign workers are getting work the locals should be doing.
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The member will resume her seat. The Deputy Leader of the Opposition is well aware that in seeking the indulgence of the chair she is expected to show where she personally has been misrepresented.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare
3:22 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare
Yes.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare
I claim to have been misrepresented today by the Attorney-General and I seek leave to table the letter that he mentioned in the parliament today. I believe that he intentionally imputed a wrong purpose and intent to the letter that he mentioned. He implied that it is unusual for a member of the parliament to write on behalf of constituents asking for the expedition of—
Wilson Tuckey O'Connor, Liberal Party
Mr Speaker, on a point of order: the member for Sydney is debating the context of the letter, not explaining where the minister misrepresented her.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Wilson Tuckey O'Connor, Liberal Party
Don’t give us lectures about the way the place operates!
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The member for Sydney will not debate the issue. The member will merely show where she has personally been misrepresented.
Tanya Plibersek Sydney, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Childcare
The Attorney-General implied that it is unusual for a member of parliament to write on behalf of a constituent asking for the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs to expedite business visas. We do it all time, because skills have declined so badly in this country. We believe Australians should be trained first and trained—
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Sydney has made her point. Is leave granted for the member to table the letter?
Leave granted.