Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek permission to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Unfortunately, yes.

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

Please proceed.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

In a media release from the Leader of the Nationals today, accompanying the identical words by some other members of the opposite side, there is a claim that I have plans to import live foot-and-mouth virus into Australia. The government has repeatedly stated, as have I, that the only circumstances where bringing a live virus into the country would be contemplated would be if an outbreak had already occurred, in which case the question would be asked of the veterinary authorities whether or not it was required to best conduct an eradication program—and they are the only circumstances. I will table the media releases.

Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a personal explanation.

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

Does the honourable member claim to have been misrepresented?

Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do.

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

Please proceed.

Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

During question time today the Deputy Prime Minister alleged that I and other members of the opposition were seeking to change the definition of a small business for the purposes of paying redundancy. That is completely and utterly false, as is often the case with the allegations made by the Deputy—

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

Mr Speaker, the member must show where he personally has been misrepresented. He was not mentioned during question time. We ignored him—as you would.

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

The member, I am sure, understands the obligation he has to show where he has been misrepresented and not to debate the question.

Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I do, Mr Speaker, and, as I said in question time today, the Deputy Prime Minister alleged that I and others were seeking to change the definition of ‘small business’ for redundancy purposes. That is completely and utterly false.

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

Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. The member opposite is trying to debate a question. He has not shown that he was personally misrepresented and it is not a personal misrepresentation for a—

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

The Leader of the House will resume his seat. I will listen to the member for Stirling. The member for Stirling has the call. He will not debate, though, and I understand that he understands that.

Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As I said, the Deputy Prime Minister misrepresented the position of myself and other members of the opposition in relation to the definition of ‘small business’ for the purposes of redundancy. That is completely and utterly false, and I seek leave to table our amendments in which we explicitly say that for the purposes of redundancy the definition will remain at 15 employees.

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

Order! The member for Stirling will resume his seat.

Steve Gibbons (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I seek leave to make a short statement.

Leave not granted.

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?

Steve Gibbons (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yes, I do.

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

Please proceed.

Steve Gibbons (Bendigo, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Yesterday at a doorstop interview and then later in the House last night, the member for Paterson cast disparaging remarks on my attitude to a program of a potential light armoured mobility vehicle project at Thales in Australia. Let me assure the member that I have been very vocal, supported by the Minister for Defence and the member for Charlton. On 18 December I issued a media release on that very issue, which I am happy to table. It was published in the Bendigo Advertiser on 19 December. Again, I am happy to table that along with an editorial on the same matter. I also issued a media release on the 11th of this month about that particular issue, also published in the Bendigo Advertiser. It is the member for Paterson who is the Johnny-come-lately on this particular issue.

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

Is leave granted to table the documents?

Leave not granted.

Government Members:

Government members interjecting—

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

I suggest to the minister and to the parliamentary secretary that they have been here a while and they will understand that only one member needs to object and leave is not granted.

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

Mr Albanese interjecting

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

I did not say it to him, but I will be more particular, if the Leader of the House is worried. It was to the Minister for Defence Science and Personnel and now the parliamentary secretary for many things, including the Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister.