Duncan Kerr (Denison, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Duncan Kerr (Denison, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes.

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

Please proceed.

Duncan Kerr (Denison, Australian Labor Party, Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Perhaps more lightly than my immediately preceding remarks, I wish to raise a grievous misrepresentation that was published in today’s Australian by DD McNicoll, who refers to me as a supporter of the Hawthorn Football Club and as having posted in my office window—and being first off the mark—a jumper hailing the success of the Tassie Hawks flying high ahead of their big win on the weekend. While it is impossible not to admire the Hawthorn Football Club’s skills and efforts—and, of course, it does have a sponsorship arrangement with my state of Tasmania—anybody who knows me in this House would know that I am, tragically, a St Kilda supporter. So you would understand how bruised I feel after the events of Saturday night and this terrible misrepresentation.

Might I entirely absolve DD McNicoll from any fault in relation to this. I have a tribally-divided office—a rat in the ranks, as it were. One of my staff is a supporter of Hawthorn and displayed the jumper in my office and conveyed that information to Mr McNicoll. Tested as I have been by this circumstance, and provoked as I have been, I have not dismissed that staff member. He remains and I wish him well for the finals.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do.

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

Please proceed.

Ms Julie Bishop (Curtin, Liberal Party, Deputy Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Firstly, when the Treasurer said that I did not know the cash interest rate, I in fact said ‘seven’. Secondly, the Treasurer said that I had plagiarised the Wall Street Journal. In my speech I was referring to the United States’ plans, and, in fact, the words I used were a technical explanation of US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s plan, which have been published widely. It is a shame that the Treasurer seeks to smear rather than manage the economy.

Wayne Swan (Lilley, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker—

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

Order! The Leader of the House will resume his seat. I call the member for Mackellar.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I wish to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Indeed, most grievously, Mr Speaker.

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

Please proceed.

Mrs Bronwyn Bishop (Mackellar, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It was by the member for Jagajaga during her speech in the debate on the motion to suspend standing orders. She indicated that somehow I was supporting her contention that the bill was unconstitutional. Let me say: I was verballed and I think it is constitutional.

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

First of all, I apologise for misrepresenting either the Leader of the House or the Treasurer when I asked the Treasurer to resume his place and called him the Leader of the House. The Treasurer has the call.