Simon Crean Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development
3:09 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Simon Crean Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development
I do, Mr Speaker.
Simon Crean Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development
In the Mackay Daily Mercury published on Friday, the Parliamentary Secretary for Transport and Regional Services, Mrs De-Anne Kelly—if she is reported correctly—accused me of being a hypocrite in relation to our assertion that the government had failed to fund the aquatic centre in Mackay in accordance with the Regional Partnerships program. She made that assertion on the basis that Labor, if it were elected, would abolish that program.
Labor will not abolish the Regional Partnerships program. Our commitment is to ensure—
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The member has shown where he has been misrepresented.
Simon Crean Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development
its greater transparency and accountability, and not allow the rorts—
Simon Crean Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development
Mr Speaker, I seek leave to confirm that point.
David Hawker Speaker
The member for Hotham will not debate the issue. If the member wishes to show where he has been personally misrepresented he may do so, but he will confine himself to that point.
Simon Crean Hotham, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Regional Development
I seek leave to table a press release, issued under my name, of 24 May 2006 in which we say we will keep the program, and a speech that I made on 19 July 2006 in which I say we are committed to retaining the program but improving its transparency and accountability.
Leave granted.