House debates Questions without Notice
Liberal Party: Leadership
Bob McMullan Fraser, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Federal/State Relations
2:59 pm
My question is to the Prime Minister. Did the Prime Minister tell the electors of Bennelong on Thursday that he was being up-front with them when he warned that he may force a by-election in that seat some time after the next election? Why did the Prime Minister change his mind on Saturday and tell his constituents that he would serve the full three years as the member for Bennelong only if the government won the next election? Which of these two statements was a lie or were they both lies?
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
I am not aware that I made the first statement.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
John Howard Bennelong, Liberal Party, Prime Minister
In words of one syllable, I say to the member for Fraser what I said to my constituents on Saturday—that is, if the government is re-elected and if I am re-elected, I will serve my full term, the full three years, and I will not inflict a by-election on them. I will not do what Bracks and Beattie have done.