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

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

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

In question time today I was misrepresented by the Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations. He alleged that I had attacked the Doolan family and their motel. I refer to and repeat the personal explanations I gave yesterday and last Thursday. These allegations, as the minister well knows, are completely untrue.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

During question time the Deputy Prime Minister asserted that the Newcastle coal loader was owned by the—

Mark Vaile (Lyne, National Party, Deputy Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The port.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

If you are only talking about the port and not the coal loader, what is your point? The Deputy Prime Minister asserted that the Newcastle coal loader was owned by the New South Wales government.

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

The member has to show where he has been misrepresented.

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Defence) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I will indeed. Worse, he asserted or implied that I agreed with that point. I did not agree and I know only too well that the coal loader is owned by PWCS, which is jointly owned Xstrata, Rio Tinto and a number of other coal companies. He is attempting to blame the New South Wales—

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

The member has made his point; he will resume his seat.