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

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

Sid Sidebottom (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Does the honourable member believe he has been misrepresented?

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

I do.

Sid Sidebottom (Braddon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Please proceed.

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

Mr Deputy Speaker, you would recall that earlier in the chamber today, after question time, I made a personal explanation in relation to certain matters included in articles by Mr Glenn Milne in papers of the Murdoch press. I believe that what I said at that time was completely accurate. I understand that Senator Hutchins has made a personal explanation in the other place which tends in some respects to differ from my version of what actually happened during the period in question.

History might judge me to have a flawed recollection, but I just want the House to know that the recollection I enunciated earlier was an honest recollection. It was a recollection to the best of my belief. I am certainly regretful if anyone has been upset by my explanation, but I just want to reassure the House that, even though Senator Hutchins has a different recollection—of certain elements, not all elements—of the matter in question, that my recollection as expressed to the House is honest and genuine. Nobody is infallible—I am not the Pope—but the fact is that—

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

You have made your point about where you have been misrepresented.

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

The fact is that my recollection as expressed to the House is to the best of my ability.

Ms Anna Burke (Chisholm, Deputy-Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, you have repeated that. Thank you.