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

Yes, most greviously.

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

Mr Speaker, the member for Hunter, the Minister for Defence, is misleading the House. I was very clear—

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Albanese interjecting

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

Order! The Leader of the House will resume his seat. The member will go directly to where he claims to have been misrepresented by the statement.

Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the House) | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, on a point of order, I ask that the member for Paterson withdraw that allegation or move a substantive motion.

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

Order! The member did not accuse the minister of deliberately misleading. The member will come very quickly to where he has been personally misrepresented.

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

The minister said that I put forward a motion which was not in compliance with the standing orders. That is not true. Yesterday, I tabled a statement from the Clerk—

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

Order! The member will resume his seat and the minister will resume his seat. This Hunter regional saga is closed—surely!

Joel Fitzgibbon (Hunter, Australian Labor Party, 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 minister claim to have been misrepresented?

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

Yes, I certainly do.

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

Please proceed. The minister will come directly to where he has been personally misrepresented.

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

I will, Mr Speaker. I know that the member for Paterson proposed a consideration in detail amendment because he lobbied me to support it.

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

Order! The minister will resume his seat. The Hunter local papers can deal with this now. The member for Cook has the call, very briefly, on indulgence.

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

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

Order! Indulgence is in my hands, and it will be dealt with very quickly. The member was given guidance about his personal explanation, so I hope that we are not raking over those old coals.

Scott Morrison (Cook, Liberal Party) | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to table the statement of 24 February 2006.

Leave not granted.