Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and the Voluntary Sector) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and the Voluntary Sector) | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, Mr Speaker.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Families, Community Services, Indigenous Affairs and the Voluntary Sector) | Link to this | Hansard source

In question time today, the Minister for Housing claimed that I had criticised Labor members for visiting homeless shelters. I did no such thing, and I challenge the minister to produce a transcript to the effect that I did. What I did say was that it was one thing to visit these shelters; it was another thing to actually make a difference to the plight of homeless people. I challenge the government to get on with it.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Order! The member has explained how he has been misrepresented.

Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the member claim to have been misrepresented?

Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, Mr Speaker.

Harry Jenkins (Speaker) | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

In today’s Courier-Mail at page 10, there is a report on a speech given by the Leader of the Opposition at the National Press Club. In that report, it was written that I, along with a number of others, was present.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

Peter Slipper (Fisher, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

While no inference should be made over the fact that I was not present, I wanted to correct the record and state that, despite what the Courier-Mail said at page 10, I was not at the National Press Club yesterday.