Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

David Hawker (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

David Hawker (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

This morning’s AM program claimed I faced questions about my judgement based on a letter I wrote on behalf of a constituent who lost his job on the waterfront at the start of this year. What the reporter, Josephine Cafagna, failed to mention was that the constituent was the subject of an Australian Federal Police criminal history check, conducted with his consent, which concluded that he did not have an adverse criminal record or an adverse security assessment. In fact, the federal Department of Transport and Regional Services gave the constituent his job back in February this year, but Ms Cafagna failed to make any reflections on their judgement in doing so. It is reports like this which give journalists a bad name.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! Members on my right! The member for Wills has the call. He will be heard.

Kelvin Thomson (Wills, Australian Labor Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table a letter from the Department of Transport and Regional Services which makes these matters clear.

Leave granted.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

David Hawker (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

As usual, Mr Speaker.

David Hawker (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

In question time today, the Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations all alleged that I had criticised the Lilac City Motor Inn—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order!

Trish Draper (Makin, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mrs Draper interjecting

David Hawker (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member for Makin is warned.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I know they do not like the truth, but I refer to—

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

David Hawker (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

The Deputy Leader of the Opposition will come to her point.

Julia Gillard (Lalor, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) | Link to this | Hansard source

I refer to and I repeat my personal explanation from Thursday. I suggest they read it.