Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

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

Please proceed.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) | Link to this | Hansard source

On 4 June 2008, I moved a second reading amendment to the Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme Bill 2008. In the Port Stephens Examiner on 19 June 2008, the Minister for Defence was quoted as saying:

This amendment was rejected by the parliamentary clerks because it did not comply with Parliament House rules.

I ask for the minister to retract this comment. The amendment did go to the House, and the defence minister did vote on the amendment. I also have written confirmation from the Clerk Assistant (Table), Department of the House of Representatives, which clearly states that the amendment was in order. I ask the Minister for Defence to apologise for misleading the newspaper readers on what actually happened.

An incident having occurred in the gallery—

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

I call the Minister for Defence.

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

On indulgence, Mr Speaker: it is true that the member for Paterson moved an amendment to that bill, which the government deemed to be discriminatory against some defence families. I was further advised that, at least initially, it was rejected by the clerks as not being in conformity with the standing orders. If there is advice to the contrary, I will be happy to retract.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Baldwin interjecting

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

Order! I call the member for Paterson only if he has that advice to pass to the minister.

Bob Baldwin (Paterson, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Defence) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table advice from Robyn McClelland stating that the amendment was in order.

Leave granted.