House debates

Wednesday, 7 February 2007

Personal Explanations

4:23 pm

Photo of Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources) Share this | | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Photo of Ian CausleyIan Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Does the minister claim to have been misrepresented?

Photo of Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources) Share this | | Hansard source

Yes, I do.

Photo of Ian CausleyIan Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Photo of Malcolm TurnbullMalcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Minister for the Environment and Water Resources) Share this | | Hansard source

The member for Throsby earlier said that I had sought to impose a new definition of ‘sceptic’. The definition I gave of ‘sceptic’ yesterday was quoted from the Oxford English Dictionarythat is:

... a person inclined to question or doubt accepted opinions.

The Macquarie Dictionary definition is similar. It is:

... someone who questions the validity or authenticity of something purporting to be knowledge.

The only people seeking to create a new definition of a sceptic are the opposition.

Photo of Ian CausleyIan Causley (Page, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | | Hansard source

The minister has clarified the position. The discussion is now concluded.