Gavan O'Connor Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
3:23 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Gavan O'Connor Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
Yes.
Gavan O'Connor Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry claimed in question time today that I have made no public comment on drought. Since assuming this portfolio, I have issued 13 press releases relating to the failure of the Howard government’s drought policy, I have made several policy speeches to industry associations on drought matters and, indeed, I have launched the Labor Party’s policy specifically relating to drought.
The minister also misrepresented my position on farmers accessing assistance in EC declared areas. In that particular statement that I made to the press, I claimed that 13 per cent of farmers in EC declared areas actually receive assistance. That is information that we obtained from the minister’s department in Senate estimates. Given the minister’s performance on the mandatory code of conduct, farmers know who the liar is in this place.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Corio will resume his seat. When the member wishes to raise a matter like that, he will stick to where he has been personally misrepresented and not debate the issue.
Gavan O'Connor Corio, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries
Mr Gavan O’Connor interjecting
Peter McGauran Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House
Enjoy it while you can, member for Corio, because your own colleagues have kicked you out.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
David Hawker Speaker
The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry has the call.
Peter McGauran Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House
3:25 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Peter McGauran Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House
Yes.
Peter McGauran Gippsland, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House
Just now the member for Corio misrepresented me. I wish to table the transcript of an ABC interview in which he claimed only 13 per cent of farmers have ever accessed EC provisions. He has misled the Australian public yet again. I seek leave to table the document.
Leave granted.