Jennie George Throsby, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Heritage
3:08 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Jennie George Throsby, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Heritage
Yes.
Jennie George Throsby, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Environment and Heritage
Pursuant to the comments just made by the minister, in my letter to the minister I raised two issues. One was the issue requesting the option of having an LPG tank fitted into my next car. The second issue I raised was whether the government had given consideration to fitting all the Commonwealth fleet with LPG tanks on the grounds of saving taxpayers’ money and on environmental grounds—in my view there was a good case for all cars to be fitted with LPG tanks. If you look at my original letter to the minister and the minister’s reply you will find the context in which the correspondence was sent.
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The member for Throsby has made her personal explanation. The member for Throsby will resume her seat.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Kim Wilkie Swan, Australian Labor Party
Yes, Mr Speaker, in question time today.
Kim Wilkie Swan, Australian Labor Party
The Minister for Human Services implied that I had not raised the matter with him that was discussed in question time today. This matter was raised directly with the minister by my constituent. I have an acknowledgment of the email here which demonstrates that fact.
John Murphy Lowe, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
John Murphy Lowe, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition
Most grievously, Mr Speaker.
John Murphy Lowe, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition
Doubtless you will recall giving me the call just prior to question time yesterday during members’ statements. I made a statement about Sydney airport and the implications for my electorate in relation to aircraft noise. I checked the Hansard today, and mercifully I was faithfully recorded, but I was also recorded as having given a glowing endorsement a minute earlier to the Howard government and to the Prime Minister in relation to the government’s support for the arts in Geelong. Specifically I was recorded as saying, ‘This evening I will be pleased to represent the Prime Minister and the minister for the arts at the official unveiling.’ I have an acute sense of political survival and this would be most unsettling for my constituents in Lowe.
David Hawker Speaker
The member has made his point. The member for Lowe will resume his seat, and I will respond to him. The member for Lowe would be aware that Hansard has made an error. I also noticed it and have taken steps to have Hansard correct the record.