David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Sophie Mirabella Indi, Liberal Party
There were several instances where I was misrepresented in a speech by the member for Gorton yesterday evening, and I will go through them. Firstly, he said that I had pocketed BAT’s money and that I just did not pocket $15,000 from BAT. That is wrong. He knows. It is on the public record.
Sophie Mirabella Indi, Liberal Party
The funding did go to an associated entity, of which there are many in politics. The second point where I have been misrepresented is where he said that, where some tobacco growers opposed the BAT buyout, I said they were motivated by corruption or fear of criminal thugs in the industry. That is wrong. I was approached by several of my growers who had been intimidated. All they have to do is speak to the directors of the tobacco cooperative to understand the criminality that has entered the tobacco industry. The third point where I have been misrepresented is where the member for Gorton said that I went on to support BAT’s buyout of local growers. That is incorrect. A meeting of 500 growers and their families knows that I was there, and all I did was outline the federal government’s support package in the event that growers would accept a buyout of industry. And, may I say, Mr Speaker, that package from the Commonwealth government—
Sophie Mirabella Indi, Liberal Party
That package was a result of the member for Leichhardt and Senator Boswell’s work over two years.
David Hawker Speaker
The member will not debate the issue. Resume your seat!
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
3:10 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Order! The minister will resume her seat. The member for Indi will remove herself under standing order 94(a).
The member for Indi then left the chamber.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the minister claim to have been misrepresented?
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
Yes, I do.
Ms Julie Bishop Curtin, Liberal Party, Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Women's Issues
In the edition of the West Australian of 27 February 2007, on page 19, in an article headed ‘Labor rides a wave of confidence’, the following words were published: ‘Around the same time Julie Bishop issued a statement which implied that on child care Mr Howard treats women as fools. She later drew some kind of comparison between the proposed access card in Australia and the reality of Nazi Germany.’ Mr Speaker, at no time have I made such a statement, nor have I drawn any such comparison as alleged in the article.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Kerry Bartlett Macquarie, Liberal Party
Yesterday in question time the member for Calare made reference to an advertisement I placed in the Lithgow Mercury reminding residents of that community that I am working hard for them—an advertisement similar to ones placed in the Bathurst Advocate and the Oberon Review, also assuring those residents that I am working hard for them. They are both accurate statements. However, the member for Calare yesterday asserted that those advertisements were paid for by taxpayer funds. He is wrong. They were paid for out of my own conference campaign funds.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House
3:12 pm
Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.
David Hawker Speaker
Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House
Yes, I do.
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House
During question time today, the Deputy Prime Minister raised a number of suggestions with regard to a speech I gave yesterday in Melbourne to the Australian Water Summit, including that the Labor Party believed that we should select which crops should be planted. There is no such thing. I have clearly indicated that it should be up to the market to decide, not government—here or in the states—but that there should be a water-trading system established—
Anthony Albanese Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the House
and I refer the minister to my speech.
David Hawker Speaker
The member will resume his seat. The member has made his point.